A teenager from Ashington has died in hospital after an accident near an army barracks.

The 18-year-old man had been fighting for his life in Newcastle General since the crash on the A1 on June 24.

The collision happened shortly after midnight on the north-bound carriageway near the Catterick turn-off when a large HGV drove into the back of a roadworks lorry.

A warning has been issued by police after three people had their bank cards stolen while they were using cash machines in Northumberland.

Bank customers are urged to be vigilant following the separate incidents of distraction-type thefts at hole-in-the-wall machines in Alnwick, Morpeth and Ashington on Monday.

In all three incidents the man being hunted by Northumbria Police spoke in a foreign accent, and initially approached his victims by asking for help and waving a white envelope around.

Teenage students have become model energy-savers.

Students from Northumberland College worked with an architect to design low-energy beach huts.

The youngsters put models of their creations on display for Beach Life Balance, part of the first Local Energy Day in Blyth, Northumberland.

The aim of the seafront event was to show families how easy it is to cut carbon emissions and help the environment.

Shotley Bridge and Swalwell laid the stage out perfectly on Saturday in the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League as they both won to turn their head-to-head yesterday into the key encounter of the season to date.

Bridge gained their expected victory over bottom club Lintz, but the winless bottom side gave a good account of themselves.

Shotley were bowled out for 178 with Anthony Ward (3-64 in 14 overs) and Nathan Clennell (3-49 in 14 overs) causing them problems.

Cricket ace Steve Harmison will bowl over relatives of a teenager when he plays a special match in her memory.

The England and Durham star has organised a charity match in his home town of Ashington, which is set to take place next month in aid of The Laura Dodds Fund.

Laura, also of Ashington, lost a four-year battle against osteosarcoma - a rare form of bone cancer - in 2000, aged 19.

Thousands of people across Northumberland are about to be asked for their views on whether the county's controversial two-tier system of car parking charges should be abolished.

A major public consultation will be launched soon as part of a wide-ranging review which will help unitary council chiefs decide whether or not to scrap the tradition of free parking in the south east of the county.

Shopkeepers and businesses in rural communities such as Berwick, Seahouses, Alnwick, Morpeth and Hexham say it is unfair that motorists have to pay up to £1.10 an hour - while they can park free in towns such as Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington and Bedlington.

Four intrepid explorers are taking on one final challenge for two family members affected by cancer.

Having pushed their personal limits and taken on difficult conditions in charity treks across the world, the group of women are travelling to South Africa to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

Claire Miles, Paula Ball, Pat Taylor and Claire Campbell on Trek China

Having raised £30,000 over the years, they are now having one last push for the £15,000 they need to complete their fundraising to fight a disease that has afflicted their family twice.

Enterprising women are passing on their skills to the next generation after forming their own group.

The dozen women from around Wansbeck were initially brought together at an event to encourage students from Northumberland College to think about setting up their own business.

Now, with the support of Go Wansbeck business coach Dave Gibbon, they have set up their own networking group, which was launched at an event at the college.

A special gig held in memory of a Northumberland teenager has raised £1,400 for charity.

Laura Dodds, of Ashington, died aged 19, from a rare form of cancer, in 2000.

Her relatives set up a fund to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent , which both supported Laura throughout her illness.

Community Wildlife is for projects that help people discover, enjoy and protect wildlife in their local area.

Now open to organisations including voluntary and community organisations, schools, town and parish councils, and statutory health authorities. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available.

There is up to £2 million available across the UK and organisations can submit applications before the three deadlines of 21July, 22 September and the 24 November 2010.

For further details and to get an application form visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/communitywildlife, or call our helpline on:
0845 367 0610.
For more ideas for projects visit www.bbc.co.uk/wild