Labour Party members have chosen the national leader of Britain's pitmen as their candidate to fight a traditionally safe seat in a former North East coal mining stronghold.

Ian Lavery - president of the National Union of Mineworkers - emerged as the winner from a shortlist of four drawn up to choose the General Election candidate for the Wansbeck constituency.

Yesterday his selection to defend the seat held by retiring MP Denis Murphy was described as 'a backward step' by his Liberal Democrat election rival, Simon Reed.

Kind-hearted customers at a Northumberland garden centre and nursery have helped raise more than £3,500 for two North East charities.

Staff at Heighley Gate near Morpeth have handed over cheques to St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth and the Ashington Squadron Air Training Corps following a Christmas fundraising drive.

St Oswald's has been given £1,848 and the air cadets £1,818 from the proceeds from the garden centre's Santa's grotto over the festive period.

A last minute promise of extra cash for Northumberland's crumbling roads and a climbdown on spending cuts in care of the elderly was enough to avoid a potential council budget crisis last night.

The 11th-hour package of concessions by County Hall leaders enabled the unitary authority to finally agree its 2010/11 budget plans, with just four days to spare.

The agreement averted the risk of the council failing to set a legal budget in the required timescale, and the threat of Government-appointed commissioners being sent in to do the job.

A well-established choir is hoping to attract some new voices.

Ashington and District Male Voice Choir saw a few members depart last year and, after taking on some new recruits, is hoping to increase its strength by about another 10 men, which would make "a tremendous difference".

Rehearsals on Thursday evenings are giving the opportunity to bring back music which has not been done for many years, while also introducing new pieces, some of which have musical arrangements by the choir's own musical director, Neil Morton, to give future concerts a varied and exciting programme.

A Northumberland man appeared in court yesterday charged with stabbing a former neighbour and imprisoning him and his girlfriend in their flat.

Mark Robert Keenan, 42, of Sweethope Avenue, Ashington, appeared before South East Northumberland magistrates following the alleged stabbing of David Thompson, 44, at his home in Alexandra Road, Ashington, on Monday. Keenan is charged with wounding Mr Thompson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He also faces two counts of falsely imprisoning Mr Thompson and his girlfriend Debbie Murdie.

Keenan is also charged with producing a controlled drug, supplying a class B drug and common assault against Miss Murdie.

All six charges were sent to Newcastle Crown Court. They will be heard there on March 11.

Mr Thompson was expected to be released from hospital last night.

Work carried out by the St John Ambulance Service in providing care for elderly and disabled people will be showcased at an event in Northumberland next week.

The Dignity in Care Community Event, in Ashington's Masonic Hall on Tuesday, has been organised by Barchester Healthcare's Woodhorn Park and Station Park residential homes in the town.

St John Ambulance Northumbria runs three day centres for elderly people in Ashington, Shiremoor and Berwick.

Ashington bounced back to form last night in the only Skilltrainingltd Northern League First Division game which went ahead.

After claiming just one point from the previous nine, the Colliers defeated relegation-threatened Horden CW 4-2 at Welfare Park.

Gary Middleton's side made a dream start, scoring twice in the opening five minutes. In the second minute, recent signing Alex Benjamin struck when he collected a long goal kick from Karl Dryden and produced a clinical finish wide of goalkeeper Craig Shields.

Thieves who broke into a power substation have been told they were 'lucky to get away alive.

Police officers in Ashington investigated an incident where raiders broke into a power installation to steal a quantity of copper piping.

But power company CE Electric UK said the consequences of the thieves' actions could have been deadly - and not just for themselves.

Spokesman Michael Sargood said: "The culprits escaped without serious injury - they were lucky they weren't killed. What's more, they've forced entry and left this substation open for any curious passer-by to walk into. The people who commit these crimes probably see metal theft as a petty offence. But when you're jeopardising others' safety then there's nothing petty about it."

A man is to appear in court this morning in relation to a stabbing in a Northumberland town.

Mark Robert Keenan, 42, of Ashington, goes before South East Northumberland magistrates following the stabbing of a 44-year-old man in a house on Alexandra Road, Ashington in the early hours of Monday.

Keenan will appear at the Bedlington court to faces charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of false imprisonment, producing a controlled drug, supplying a class-B drug and common assault.

Meanwhile, the 44-year-old man was last night still in Wansbeck General Hospital night having sustained neck and chest injuries. His condition was described by a Northumbria Police spokesman as stable.

Thieves who steal metal are putting their lives at risk, police have warned.

Aside from causing untold damage to buildings and great difficulty for property owners, the criminals could also end up killing themselves or others.

The warning comes after officers in Ashington investigated an incident where thieves had broken into an electricity substation and stole copper piping.