A service which delivers hot meals to frail elderly people in a Northumberland town has been given a major cash boost by one of the county's biggest employers.

Aluminium company Rio Tinto Alcan has donated £2,500 to the meals on wheels scheme in Ashington which provides around 15 local pensioners with a hot lunch each day.

The cash from the company, which operates a 600-job smelter at Lynemouth, has gone to the Ashington Joint Welfare Scheme, which manages the town's Hirst Welfare Centre.

About 10 new members are being sought by the Ashington and District Male Voice Choir following the loss of a number of singers in the last year.

The choir meets for rehearsals every Thursday at 7.30pm in Ashington High School.

Anyone interested in joining is welcome to come along, or can make contact with the choir by calling Bob Brind on 01670 790169.

He's back doing what he does best after being given a helping hand from a confessed gangster.

The 10ft figurehead of Admiral Boscawen is officially standing guard again overlooking the youngsters of Northumberland.

The wooden sculpture has been restored to its former glory with help of cash from infamous hard-man Wilf Pine and his pals, and on Saturday was formally back with the Ashington Sea Cadets.

Caring bikers are riding to the rescue of a popular North East charity event which nearly reached the end of the road after almost two decades.

Every year since 1991, scores of leather-clad motorcyclists have taken part in the annual Easter Egg run organised by the Northumberland Bikers' club.

They collected thousands of chocolate eggs donated by customers at various pubs and clubs and then set off in a huge motorbike convoy to deliver them to children and elderly people in hospitals and homes across Northumberland and Tyneside.

Campaigners have vowed to continue their battle to save a Northumberland leisure centre.

County council bosses had hoped to save more than £155,000 by cutting cash destined for Ashington Leisure Centre, but after a fierce public backlash they promised to keep the facility open for another year.

From left: John McCormack, Kathy Tate and Neil Foster of the South East Northumberland Trades Union Council

However, for supporters of the campaign, launched by Ashington teenager Adam Nichol, 14, to keep the centre permanently open, the fight is far from over.

Two North karate clubs put on a spectacular floor show at the Seahouses Junior Competition.

Ashington and Linton students competed superbly in team and Individual kata and kumite events, as entrants of all ages gained recognition for their achievements.

Ashington's biggest achievers were the trio of Kyle Duddridge, Alex Ralph and Dylan Gibson.

A new scheme aiming to help people in Northumberland detect cancer early urgently needs volunteers.

The community-based initiative, the Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC), has been set up to help people living mainly in the Blyth, Wansbeck and Morpeth areas.

It aims to raise awareness of the disease so people can spot the early signs of breast, bowel and lung cancer.

Intrepid fundraisers are being sought for a charity plunge into the icy cold North Sea on Boxing Day.

Lions Club officials in Ashington are hoping for another bumper turn-out for their annual festive dip in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, at 11am on Saturday December 26.

Over the years the fancy dress event has raised many thousands of pounds for local good causes and community projects.

Voluntary and community groups in Northumberland have been warned they are facing a reduction in funding for their work - because of the recession and tough budget savings required by the county council.

However, County Hall bosses have reassured the sector that a funding package of £1.3m will still be available next year. Budget proposals recommend more money for charities directly supporting those people worst affected by the recession.

These will include services such as credit unions and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

A dance group is putting its best feet forward to take a group of 20 children to compete at Euro Disney.

Ashington-based social enterprise Dance Northumberland is being supported by Barclays Bank to pull together the cash for the adventure to Paris next March.

The group, which will also comprise 16 adults - who must pay for their own trip - will be competing against dancers from all over Europe. Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity will also be performing at the event.