A US state has banned the sale of a soft drink made in the North East to anyone who not yet turned 21.

Officials in Maine have re-classified Fentimans Victorian Lemonade as "imitation liquor", with the State Attorney General saying it is too strong because of the trace alcohol - less than 0.5% - contained in the drink.

Earlier this week, The Journal told how a storm had blown up over the Hexham-based company's drink, after the alcohol content on its label was brought to the attention of a high school principal by one of his pupils.

PLANS to put up illuminated advertising signs on a store in a conservation area have been rejected by a Government planning inspector.

The application by Simply Food and Drink in Priestpopple, Hexham was rejected by Tynedale Council earlier this year.

Dismissing the firm's appeal against the decision, planning inspector Graham Snowdon said the signs would be incongruous features in a sensitive area.

A health group in Northumberland has received the backing of the county's MPs as it campaigns for greater help for its members.

The Hexham branch of the National Autistic Society travelled to London to take part in the "Don't Write Me Off" campaign, which aims to make things easier for those with autism when applying for benefits.

Stuart Ferrol, 38, from Hexham, went on behalf of the group and attended the high-profile launch alongside MPs in the Strangers' dining room.

It has been quite a year for One Life Racing, the Tyne Valley-based triathlon and multisports club.

Newly-opened state-of-the- art training facilities at Wentworth Leisure in Hexham have enabled club officials to accommodate the ever-growing demand for new memberships, with numbers rising to more than 200 during 2009.

One Life athletes have also been enjoying remarkable success on a regional, national as well as international level, with four senior members being crowned national champions in their respective age groups.

Victorian lemonade brewed in Northumberland is at the centre of an underage drinking row in America.

A spirited debate is raging about the soft drink after a teen at a school in Maine became concerned that it contained alcohol.

The boy handed it to his school principal who contacted the police and set in motion a series of complaints from substance abuse officials, pictured Eldon Robson, Fentimans managing director and master brewer.

Cullercoates CP 1, Hexham 3

As normal this season injuries play a part in team selection for Hexham but on the morning of the match no fewer than six players had cause to ring manager Terry Graham to withdraw from the squad. The main culprit was the flu bug which has hit the region so this was to be the severest test of the squad so far. Eleven fit players took the field against League new Boys Cullercoats Custom Planet.

Thomas North took the role of lone sub but in normal circumstances should not have been named in the squad as he has a reoccurring knee problem that will only be cured with rest but volunteered in case any other injury problem came to the surface.

Hexham 5, Walbottle 3

After a week kicking their heels Hexham were keen to get back into action against this strong Walbottle side and Hexham quickly found themselves in a game when Walbottle played a well worked move from a throw-in to go 1-0 up.

Hexham soon got back level with good interlinking play between Kelly Loughhead and Rhannan Castle which was then finished off by Layla Zahawi. Layla then got her second of the game when Kelly slotted a ball through which Layla promptly thumped into the roof of the net.

The parents of a North East man who died in the Lockerbie bombing have welcomed a police review of the case - but said it falls short of their ultimate aim of a full-scale inquiry into the atrocity.

Barrie and Jean Berkley from Hexham - whose son Alistair, 29, was among the 270 people killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up over the Scottish town in December 1988 - said it was 'absolutely scandalous' there has never been a full, independent inquiry into what happened.

It comes as the Scottish Government and Whitehall are in dispute about who would be responsible for any future investigation.

Yesterday it emerged British victims have now been told police in Scotland are following several new lines of inquiry, including a review of forensic evidence.

Youngsters have named Hadrian's Wall as one of the most iconic landmarks in the country.

Stonehenge came top in the Travelodge poll of 2,500 youngsters aged eight to 15.

Hadrian's Wall came second, followed by the London Eye, Edinburgh Castle, and Buckingham Palace .

Antony Gormley's Angel of the North came eighth in the survey ahead of Blackpool Tower and St Paul's Cathedral.

Celebrating their sixth anniversary at the beginning of November will be domestic abuse charity, SixtyEightyThirty. Starting from nothing the charity now provides practical and emotional support to women who have experienced domestic abuse at any time in their lives.

Since we began, a total of 612 women have been referred to our service and, as we have become better known, more and more women either call us themselves or are referred by other organisations and professionals.