Biographies of the Ashington group of artists - better known as the Pitmen Painters - will be included in the latest edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography due to be published tomorrow.

The group was formed in the 1930s when coal miners from Ashington began an art appreciation class organized by the Workers' Education Association, and continued to meet weekly in the town until the early 1980s.

The new entry in the Oxford DNB includes the life stories of the group's influential tutor, Robert Lyon (1894-1978), and its best-known members, Oliver Kilbourn, pictured, (1904-1993) and Harry Wilson (1898-1972).

The family of an Ashington man who died after being stabbed in the neck have paid tribute to a loving father and husband.

Gary Carr's wife Tracey said: ``He was a loving father and a great family man who will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

In a statement his family said he was a quiet man who liked nothing better than spending time with his family and walking the dog with his two sons Owen, 12, and nine-year-old Kieran.

A fire crew was called to a nursing home to free a member of staff in a jammed lift early today.

The lift at Grange Nursing Home, in Ashington, became stuck as it was being used by a male member of staff at 6.30am.

After he raised the alarm, a crew from Ashington Fire Station used the lift's emergency manual controls to lower it and open the lift doors. The member of staff, who was alone in the lift, was unharmed.

An Ashington man has got a chance to make a difference on a once in a lifetime trip to India.

Graeme Douglas will travel out to support children and villagers in the town of Puranpur, Uttar Pradesh, using his art skills to help in the village school.

He will spend 10 weeks there and will also teach English, maths and sport.

On Saturday Ashington went down 3-0 to Billingham Synthonia in the Northern League Division 1.

John Amos, Craig Coates and Graham Cairns were Seaton Delaval's marksmen in their 3-1 Challenge Cup win at home to Ashington Colliers, who replied through Anthony Wright.

Charities can benefit from two days of expert advice to help them raise more money for their causes.

Wansbeck Centre for Voluntary Service provides information, support and advice to voluntary and community groups in the Wansbeck district and its autumn conference is on the subject of fundraising, which will provide a mix of training and advice for voluntary and community groups.

On day one, fundraising expert Mark Butcher, who has worked with a mix of local, national and international organisations, will give the first talk.

A man has been held on suspicion of murder after another man was found stabbed in Ashington.

Gary Carr suffered stab wounds to his neck at his home in Oakland Terrace and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said a knife had been recovered. A 46-year-old Ashington man has been arrested and remains in custody.

A Home Office pathologist was called in and a post-mortem examination is due to be carried out.
Police said Mr Carr's family did not wish to comment.

For more than 100 years it was a field of dreams for generations of soccer hopefuls.

Those that went on to the very heights of the game included legendary Jackie Milburn and his cousin Cissie's sons Bobby and Jack Charlton.

But now the demolition men have moved in and Ashington's Portland Park is being taken apart.

Northumbria Police is targeting under-age drinking and alcohol-related disorder in Ashington town centre in a bid to make Northumberland safer.

Following concern from local residents, neighbourhood policing teams have increased patrols on Friday and Saturday nights and during the last few weeks, officers have conducted more than 180 checks at off-licence premises.

Police also plan to visit Hirst and Ashington Parks, where underage drinking has led to disorderly behaviour in nearby residential areas.

A man has died in a collision between five cars near Ashington.

Police investigations were continuing yesterday into the circumstances surrounding a weekend road smash in a Northumberland village which claimed the life of a car driver.

Northumbria Police yesterday named the man who was killed in the accident, in West Terrace, Stakeford, near Bedlington, as Dale Kindley, 44, who came from Ashington.