Thousands of people enjoyed a day out in the Northumberland countryside at the weekend as Bellingham Show swung back into action after heavy rain caused the cancellation of last year's event.

Organisers had their prayers answered as sunny weather saw an estimated 7,000-strong crowd pack on to the showfield on Saturday for several hours of competitions, displays and entertainment.

Wark's promising start in the Northern Alliance Premier Division continued and they share third place with Killingworth Sporting.

The Tyne valley outfit picked up another three points from their convincing 3-0 win away to Blyth Town.

Wark's marksmen were Lee Telfer with a brace and Marc Nixon, who has scored in each of his side's five opening games.

After a packed summer of family events around Northumberland, the final weekend of the summer holidays is beckoning, with another busy programme across the county.

The event likely to attract the biggest crowd is the Glendale Show (pictured), now in its 117th year, featuring a host of rural attractions and stalls. Spectacular carriage driving and falconry displays and a Ready Steady Cook style cooking competition are some of the highlights of the event on Bank Holiday Monday.

In the bottom corner of the county on the same day, Blanchland & Hunstanworth Show (see link below) will be taking place, and two days before on Saturday Bellingham will also be welcoming visitors to its Show to take part and watch various traditional competitions.

The very last sheep sale left a Northumbrian rural community shorn of not only a long-loved tradition.

The closure of Bellingham Auction Mart also meant the end of a social gathering for farmers, shepherds and families from remote parts of the county's uplands.

Helen's photograph of farmers and shepherd at Bellingham Mart before it closed in 2004

Among the many who felt the loss keenly was Helen Brown, a shepherd for the last 27 years who lives at Greenhaugh, near Bellingham.

A new look for Northumberland online is being fronted by TV presenter Wendy Gibson.

The BBC personality features in a video on Northumberland Tourism's relaunched website, offering potential visitors to the region a virtual tour of some of its highlights.

Among the sites explored from spectacular aerial views are Hadrian's Wall, Bamburgh Castle, Berwick, and Lindisfarne.

Hundreds of cyclists will come together in a bid to boost the region's economy.

The bikers will take part in a number of events in Northumberland and the Borders next month ranging from the world class Tour of Britain to the Four Abbeys Cycle Challenge in aid of Children 1st.

David McMillan from Singletrack Bikes in Galashiels helps Finlay Dodds from Lauder check over his bicycle in advance of the 4 Abbeys Cycle Challenge

The month-long programme for both expert and novice cyclists includes the Kielder 100, the UK's first 100 mile single lap off-road mountain bike race, which cuts through Kielder Forest in Northumberland.

A major review of local government boundaries in Northumberland is entering its second phase.

The Boundary Committee for England has started a second round of public consultation on future arrangements for the county's new unitary council.

The main purpose of the review is to ensure "electoral equality" following the restructuring of local government last year.

Tynedale could become a top filming venue for movie and TV crews in the future. This is part of the ambitious plan of a group that wants to promote the area and make the most of its burgeoning arts scene.

Members of Tynedale FM want to expand the currently closed district radio station and are looking into many possibilities to promote the area, including an arts magazine.

They have even discussed cutting-edge technology to keep locals engaged with what is going on in their part of Northumberland, including getting the radio through the mobile and having podcasts for people to download.

Carlisle City stayed at the head of the Northern Alliance Premier Division after securing their fourth win on the trot, 3-2 at home to Wark.

Scott Priest, Joe Blaylock and Jamie Heath netted for City, and Wark suffered their first defeat despite having Lee Telfer and Marc Nixon on target.

A year's worth of planning paid off when the Falstone Border Shepherds Show took place at the weekend - although the weather also helped out on the day.

The annual show, the 124th to take place, went ahead on Saturday and enjoyed glorious sunshine.

But things were not looking so rosy for two days beforehand, with rain hampering attempts to put up the marquees and becoming heavier on the Friday night.