A novice architect has won an award for his design for a museum.

Shaun Young was presented with the Sergeant Award for Excellence in Drawing as well as being shortlisted for the student medal for best overall student project at an international awards ceremony in London.

The medals are awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

A Football legend will be returning to his roots to launch a week-long drive to improve the Hirst area of Ashington.

World Cup winner Jack Charlton, who was born in the town, will be kick starting the "Week of Action" which runs between November 24 and 28 and involves a host of initiatives, including clean-ups of the area, community safety activities, advice workshops and high visibility patrols by police and council wardens.

Disorderly youths in Ashington are being warned to behave or face joint action by police and the local authority.

Officers from the Ashington Neighbourhood Police Team are using Acceptable Behaviour Agreements (ABAs) in partnership with Wansbeck Council's Community Safety Team.

Over the past six weeks officers have issued 14 ABAs in the Ashington area following complaints of nuisance behaviour.

Plans to create a new supermarket in Ashington look set to be given the go-ahead.

Wansbeck Council's planning department has recommended that approval be given for the 53,000sq ft Asda store on the former site of Portland Park.

The application is due before councillors at a planning meeting at Ashington Town Hall on Wednesday November 5 at 7pm.

Young people are being targeting in a hard-hitting campaign to reduce the number of bonfire and firework-related injuries across Northumberland.

Fireworks injure almost 1000 children in the North of England every year, often resulting in permanent scarring or disfiguration. Now Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is warning pupils in secondary schools about the dangers in a programme of educational visits.

Criminals in Ashington got an early morning wake up call today after a series of dawn raids by Northumbria Police.

The "arrest day" marked the start of a major initiative aimed at driving down crime throughout Northumberland over the coming months.

More than 50 officers hit addresses in the county, arresting people wanted for offences ranging from violence to theft. Other targets include people who fail to appear in court and those who have breached community sentences.

Artists in Ashington are celebrating after securing space to display their work.

The Ashington Art Group is holding an exhibition in the bar of the Ashington Leisure Centre, which will run until November 27.

Ted Taylor, club secretary, said: "Venues for exhibitions are hard to come by in the Wansbeck area, but thanks to an appeal by the East Ashington regeneration representatives to the centre management, we were able to put on this show.

Children in Northumberland are to get new and improved facilities for play, after a successful bid for £1m of Government funding.

Northumberland County Council is one of 43 local authorities chosen by Government to become a 'PlayBuilder' authority and be granted additional funding.

The local authority will receive £1.1million over three years from the Department of Children, Schools and Families to transform and create 20 to 25 play areas countywide.

Workshops will be held in Ashington as part of a national project to promote drawing.

During the Big Draw 2008 event, which takes place during October, community artist Cath Walshaw, pictured, will be working with families and young people to create art on the grass in parks.

Workshops for 12 to16-year-olds will run on Saturday October 4 from 11am to 4pm at Hirst Park Pavilion, Ashington, and on Sunday October 5 from 11am to 4pm at Cleasewell Hill Healthy Living Centre, Guidepost.

Ashington and District Lioness Club are looking for ladies with spare time to help with charity work.

Part of Lions Clubs International, the group meets in the Lions' Den behind the YMCA in Ashington on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6.30pm.

They also have a social evening on the second Thursday of each month.

To get involved, call 01670 817482 or go along to a monthly meeting to find out more.