Northumberland dairy farmers left devastated when their commercial group collapsed have won a new deal.

The Dairy Farmers of Britain site at Blaydon, Gateshead, went bust last month, leaving members fearing for their financial future.

But a new deal has now been struck with Milk Link, providing a contract for anyone still searching for a new distributor.

Five lucky young cyclists are celebrating after winning prizes by taking part in the Velvet Junior Bike Race 2009 - and raising more than £300 for charity.

They were entered into a prize draw as part of the charity bike ride in March, which was sponsored by toilet tissue firm Velvet and hosted by tissue manufacturer SCA Hygiene Products of Prudhoe. Dan Southern, four, from Hexham won a grow your own vegetable garden kit, and Robyn Franklin, aged six, from Stocksfield, and Ben Pentland, six, from Ryton, both won mountain bikes. Emily Ward, nine, from Stocksfield, won an angling taster day and James Franklin, four, from Stocksfield, won a grown your own salad kit.

The prizes were donated by Velvet, Activ Cycles of Corbridge and Northumbrian Water. The money raised from the event went to The Penguin Fund at Newcastle Freeman Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit. The fund was set up after three-year-old Martha Andersen from Edmundbyers received life-saving treatment at the unit.

A journalist turned Emmy award-winning film maker is trying to track down his Kirkley Hall classmates from more than 50 years ago for a reunion.

Former Journal writer David Taylor, 69, wants to contact the other members of his general agriculture course who studied at the Northumberland College campus in 1957-8.

The general agriculture class of 1957 outside Kirkley Hall. David Taylor is pictured in the back row, seventh from left

Mr Taylor, who worked for a string of publications including Farming Express before moving into TV where he produced Farming Outlook, is organising the reunion at Kirkley next month.

Hundreds of elderly and disabled people who use seven council-run day centres in Northumberland face a three-month wait to find out whether they can be saved from closure.

A series of public meetings on the future of the threatened centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Hexham, Haltwhistle, Ponteland and Prudhoe - which are used by 370 people a week - has now been completed, and final decisions will be taken in September.

Further private meetings will be held with individual centre users and their families, and feedback from the public consultation analysed, before reports setting out the various options are presented to county councillors.

With the summer transfer merry ground hitting the heights it's not surprising that the majority of people assume that football is awash with ready cash.

Nothing could be further from the truth and at grassroots level this is very evident, where clubs like Hexham FC are reliant on player subs and generous local sponsors.

Imagine what it must be like trying to raise funds for playing kit in the West African country of Gambia.

This republic is the smallest country in the continent of Africa and is bordered to the North, East and South by Senegal and to the West by almost fifty miles of Atlantic coastline.

Independent rural petrol stations are facing an increasing battle just to survive, as they struggle to compete with their bigger rivals.

Many of the stations also act as convenience stores in their local communities, but dozens have closed over the last few years, in yet another blow to the rural economy.

Gordon Moore, pictured, who owns the Border Reiver Station in Knowesgate, Northumberland, said the margin on fuel from his station is tiny.

With both Swalwell and Shotley Bridge stalled by the weather, a new kid appeared on the Wellstream NTSL championship chasing block in the shape of Sacriston.

The games at Ryton, where Swalwell were due, Percy Main, who were entertaining Bridge, and Ashington, where Morpeth were the visitors, all succumbed to the previous day's downpours which left the grounds unfit for any play.

And Sacriston took full advantage of this inactivity by romping to a 92-run home win over Lintz.

A company is helping the fight against the Taliban by supplying trailers to use on the front line in Afghanistan.

Hexham-based Logic has won a contract to supply trailers for 200 quad bikes ordered for use by British troops.

Part of a £5m contract, the trailers will help the Armed Forces' ability to deliver combat supplies to troops .

Fears were voiced last night over the potential impact on the health of elderly and vulnerable people if care chiefs press ahead with controversial plans to close seven day centres in Northumberland.

Relatives of elderly dementia suffers who use the council-run Lyndon Walk day centre in Blyth said they are worried that their conditions will get even worse if they have to uproot themselves and move elsewhere.

Two women told a public meeting in the town that their mothers don't cope well with change, and questioned whether adequate alternative provision will be available if the centre closes.

Thanks to Richard Hannam from Prudhoe sending in this picture of the manicured fairway on the 18th hole of Hexham Golf Club, with the grand clubhouse standing in the background.

Send your pictures of the Hexham area to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk