A MEMORIAL celebrating the history of the region's last deep pit will be unveiled to local people next weekend.

The bronze statue of a miner and accompanying pit wheel will be unveiled at the former Ellington Colliery in Northumberland in a special ceremony and open day on Saturday November 7.

Northumberland's attempts to finally get its hands on funding from a Government programme to rebuild dilapidated schools is set to take an important step forward.

The county has so far been denied any money from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which was launched in 2004 with the aim of rebuilding or renewing every secondary school in England.

Now the Liberal Democrat-led county council is being recommended to progress efforts to gain entry to the programme - with plans to improve under-performing schools in the Wansbeck area.

Eight of Ashington Karate Club's 14-strong squad claimed medals at the northern regional competition at Sunderland University.

The students, aged between 10 and 21, were up against competitors from across the north of England including Leeds, Liverpool and Sunderland.

MEDAL WINNERS - senior women's kata: Tanya Hopper (third). Senior male kata: David Wright (first).

Ashington consolidated third place in the Northern League with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Billingham Town, who trailed to goals by Robbie Cockburn, Lee Hamilton, Scott Blandford and Gareth Bainbridge before Sean Kell claimed a consolation.

It's now neck and neck at the top of Division One after Spennymoor Town inflicted a first defeat of the season on Whitley Bay.

Heaton Stannington, fourth-placed in the Northern Alliance Premier Division, only managed a 1-1 draw with hosts Ashington Colliers.

Lawrence McKenna fired Heaton in front with Scott Smith replying.

Health care chiefs have given the go ahead for a £200m investment in services in Northumberland, including a new emergency care hospital on the outskirts of Cramlington.

Wansbeck and North Tyneside hospitals will see significant investment while community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle will be rebuilt.

The package of measures was approved yesterday at a meeting of the NHS North of Tyne Trust.

Companies in Northumberland have been hitting television screens to show off the attractions of setting up shop in Wansbeck.

The advert in prime-time ITV features companies who have received advice and assistance from Go Wansbeck, the district's local enterprise growth initiative.

Karen Turner, owner of dog walking company Walkies, in the limelight on location in Newbiggin

It is designed to encourage even more people to take advantage of the support on offer and to showcase Wansbeck as a vibrant destination.

Two of Northumberland County Council's planning committees are set to be merged because of their light workloads and the need to make further efficiency savings.

A report is expected to go to the executive next month on amalgamating the south area committee, which deals with planning applications in Blyth Valley, and the east committee, which covers Wansbeck.

Former World Cup winner Jack Charlton touched base on Tyneside to get his seasonal flu jab yesterday.

Ashington-born Jack, who was part of England's 1966 World Cup winning team, popped in to the Ponteland Road medical centre in Newcastle to urge eligible people to get their vaccine.

The 74-year-old former football star is helping to promote the Department of Health's drive to encourage people to get their jab and keep themselves well this winter.

Young promoters will tonight proudly present a professional show which they have arranged themselves as part of a volunteering scheme.

Pupils from Ashington High School Youth Project have spent the last six months preparing to stage a version of Phileas P. Souper - the story of five musicians and two mime artists who travel the world.

Far from just spending time learning their lines and rehearsing the youngsters have learned how to promote their show and gained the business skills needed to make the event a success.