A last minute promise of extra cash for Northumberland's crumbling roads and a climbdown on spending cuts in care of the elderly was enough to avoid a potential council budget crisis last night.

The 11th-hour package of concessions by County Hall leaders enabled the unitary authority to finally agree its 2010/11 budget plans, with just four days to spare.

The agreement averted the risk of the council failing to set a legal budget in the required timescale, and the threat of Government-appointed commissioners being sent in to do the job.

Young bricklayers, carpenters and tilers are learning their trade by getting a taste for the life of a builder.

The children from Sele First School in Hexham have been rolling up their sleeves this month for hands-on lessons in the building trade to give them a feel for the materials and skills used in construction.

Taking place at a construction training centre in Low Prudhoe, two groups of pupils from the school have already been on the course, run by Northumberland College as part of the Tynedale Virtual College, while a third group is set to enjoy the practical training.

Pubs across the county will be shown how to maximise the famed Northumberland friendliness to draw more tourists in and increase profits.

Northumberland Tourism says pubs in the county, unlike those in other parts of the country, are not realising their full potential and need to up their game to catch up.

"Good Pub Grub, not Grubby Pub" is the message from the organisation in an effort to get more money from the estimated 72% of UK residents who are planning to holiday at home in 2010.

Fruit and veg magnate John Holland is swapping five-a-day for the dizzy heights of the tallest peaks in the seven continents of the world.

The 49-year-old, who lives near Hexham, set himself the gruelling task of completing the Seven Summit Challenge, which fewer than 30 Britons have ever achieved due to the lack of accessibility and serious health threats.

John, owner of the JR Holland family of fresh produce businesses in the region, has already conquered Russia's Mount Elbrus (pictured below right), the highest peak in Europe, and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa (pictured bottom).

Hexham Ladies Netball were away to Berwick on Thursday night. With a full squad Berwick started positively and gained possession quickly but with some missed first shots Berwick's heads went down and Hexham took the lead 8-2.

Around 4,000 people have applied for the 500 volunteer places to man beacons and flares which are set to illuminate the length of Hadrian's Wall.

"There has been a fantastic response," said Neil Carney, marketing manager for Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd.

Linda Tuttiet from Hadrians Wall Heritage holds a flare to join in the chain during a trial run yesterday

American tourists are among those who have asked to take part and talks are being held to involve Gurkha troops to occupy craggy positions in the line which are difficult to reach.

Political leaders were urged last night to delay a budget-slashing decision amid claims people were denied the chance to have their say.

Northumberland County Council unveiled its proposed budget for 2010/11 in November. As part of a consultation on the budget, public meetings were scheduled across the county for January.

However last month's snow meant two of the meetings, at Berwick and Cramlington, had to be cancelled.

Hadrian's Wall has another claim to fame to add to its international status.

For Hadrian's Wall Country has been declared the first Fairtrade World Heritage Site zone.

The news comes as Fairtrade Fortnight kicks off in the UK from today to March 7.

A teenager who wowed judges with her writing skills has won the chance to interview a famous author.

Lucy Stanford, from Hexham clinched the top spot in an Amnesty International UK essay competition and was chosen to meet renowned children's writer David Almond.

The 15-year-old pupil at Queen Elizabeth High School, in Hexham, is a member of Amnesty International UK's Youth Advisory Group, which is made up of 30 youngsters aged between 14 and 18 from across the country.

Members of the group wrote essays on how authors can help raise awareness about human rights. Lucy's entry was judged the best and her prize was to interview David, also from Hexham.

He has won numerous awards including his first book Skellig, which won the Whitbread Children's Award.

ONE of the region's best-loved companies hopes to boost sales with two cool new additions.

Fentimans is launching a pair of brand new soft drinks next month, and boss Eldon Robson hopes the organic flavours will send the market into a fizz.

The drinks, Smooth Lemonade and Cool Ginger Beer, are less spicy takes on the company's popular Victorian Lemonade and Traditional Ginger Beer.

Both of the Hexham-based firm's best-selling drinks have a fiery ginger taste which some drinkers may find too hot to handle.