Fresh fears have surfaced that a bridge in a North Tyne village will be closed to traffic.

People living in Wark, north of Hexham, say the bridge has not been well maintained by Northumberland County Council and is in desperate need of upgrading.

Hugh Milburn, left, and Robin Archer at the bridge

But they have hit out at any ideas of banning vehicles from their bridge completely, claiming it would be "devastating" for local businesses, schools, farmers and a nearby sports club.

The darkest night skies in the country are to be lit up at the weekend at the first ever Kielder Festival of Lanterns.

The Northumberland village has the darkest skies in England, thanks to the lack of light pollution in the isolated village.

But Saturday will see a family event being held in the area which will culminate in a lantern-led procession to the shores of Kielder Water.

Plans for an eco-friendly holiday development in Northumberland have been put on hold following a controversial objection.

Councillors were set to make a decision on the future of Waterfalls Country Estate, near Ridsdale.

But it was pulled from the agenda at the last moment for an assessment of its impact.

More than 1,000 volunteer illuminators will use flares and man gas beacons to light up Hadrian's Wall along the length of the the 84-mile monument tomorrow.

Playing her part in illuminating Hadrian's Wall will be the perfect way for Maxine Granger to celebrate her 37th birthday on the same day

Maxine, who lives in Wark in the North Tyne area, worked as a pharmacy technician and is now a mature student at Northumbria University, where she is studying biomedical sciences.

Family and friends are travelling from the south of England to join a post-wall party. Maxine said: "It is going to be a fantastic birthday to remember. When I am older this date will always stand out as one of my best birthdays ever."

More stories about the Illumination of Hadrian's Wall on the Haltwhistle community site »

A new festival hopes to put Bellingham on the music map.

The two-day event, featuring folk groups such as Megson (pictured right), Whapweasel and the Caffreys (left), will showcase the best in local music, food and art.

And it promises to boost tourism to the village with more than 300 culture-lovers making their way to Riverdale Hall.

A children's play service is hitting the road to help those living in rural parts of Northumberland.

Sure Start is sending out three of their play vans into the rural areas of west Northumberland to improve the outreach services in villages and hamlets.

From left: Ian Brown of Flashlight Films; Jackie McCormick, Sure Start Childrens Centres Locality Manager and Keith Laidler, Hexham Fire Station Manager

They have also created banners and an information DVD about the services offered through the children's centres in the west of the county.

An energy company has come under fire for trying to block a tourism development close to where it wants to build a controversial wind farm in the Northumberland countryside.

In an ironic twist on the argument that wind farms harm tourist businesses, Wind Prospect Developments - which is seeking approval for 18 turbines at Green Rigg Fell in Tynedale - has formally objected to the proposed eco-friendly Waterfalls holiday park and equestrian centre near Ridsdale.

The welcome mat was laid out yesterday as anticipation grew over the hoped-for return of breeding ospreys to Northumberland.

Forestry Commission wildlife ranger Adam Fletcher (pictured) scaled the platform built on top of a conifer tree at Kielder Water & Forest Park which was used last year by a pair of the fish-eating eagles to raise three chicks.

Adam spread fresh moss on the decking to help entice the birds back. If they return, CCTV cameras will beam pictures of the osprey family to visitors at Kielder Castle.

A council has set up a new county-wide play partnership to further work that has already been praised by the Government's national organisation which deals with children's play.

Play England has praised Northumberland County Council for its effective community-led approach.

This has coincided with the announcement of the council's latest funding award of £441,000 towards the development of 13 play spaces for children in the county, as well as the establishment of a new partnership 'Northumberland Play'.

Government rulings which turned down two rural wind farm developments could give planners in the region greater authority to refuse future inappropriate proposals.

Officers at Northumberland County Council said the rejection of the schemes would have implications for future applications in the area.

In a report to go before the council tomorrow, they also raise hopes the decision will force developers to acknowledge the need to protect the county's historic environment when shaping schemes.