An international athletics meeting in Northumberland was a great success with performances from some of the world's best competitors.

Hexham once again welcomed a host of international athletes to the annual international combined events meeting at the weekend.

The competition provided some excellent performances throughout the two days with Lithuanian decathlete Darius Draudvila showing why he will be a contender at the forthcoming European Championships in Barcelona at the end of this month.

Floral themes decorated a school as members of the public were invited in for expert tuition.

Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School held a demonstration day called Here Comes Summer, where 30 members of the public signed up with the school's community and leisure programme.

Horticulture staff member Emma Thompson talks to keen gardeners

They enjoyed a morning of glorious weather in the QEHS walled garden while horticulture staff member Emma Thompson showed off the hard work that her students and community volunteers put into maintaining the garden.

An outdoor activity centre is one of the best in the country after gaining an award. Kingswood Dukeshouse Wood in Fellside, Hexham, has been awarded a prestigious Learning Outside the Classroom quality badge.

The Quality Badge was awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, an organisation set up by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to promote and champion educational experiences afforded to children away from the confines of the classroom.

Centre manager Paul Hewitt said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded the quality badge. It is a fantastic recognition of the hard work our staff put in to give children memorable and exciting learning experiences."

Irresponsible dog owners will soon get the message in a new way.

Animal welfare officers in the West of Northumberland will paint temporary yellow clean it up notices on pavements which have dog mess on them or which have been identified as areas that are regularly affected.

They have already visited Haltwhistle, Hexham, Ponteland and Prudhoe to let dog owners know they risk a £50 fine if they don't clean up after their pets. The yellow paint wears off after month.

Changes might be made that could mean people in the Tyne Valley are better represented by their council.

Currently there are five councillors each for the Hexhamshire Ward and Lower Quarter Ward with a current electorate of 283 and 294 respectively.

The parish council now believes the separation is historical rather than practical, and as parish councillors represent the whole parish and make decisions on its behalf, it believes the electorate would be best served by the councillors being elected for the whole parish rather than the two wards.

A review is under way and a report will be sent to Northumberland County Council in September. Any changes would take place for the May 2013 parish elections.

Leisure centres across the county will be opening their doors for a special week of events to show disabled people how they can make the most of the centres.

As part of National Carers Week from June 14-20, North Country Leisure will be taking part in a range of activities across its centres to promote accessibility.

As well as being venues for cyclists to complete their sponsored ride for this year's Cycle for Carers Challenge, NCL will also be holding accessibility open days at Willowburn Sports and Leisure Centre in Alnwick and Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham on Tuesday, June 15, and Prudhoe Waterworld on Wednesday, June 16.

Children at a small rural school got some professional training ahead of a big cross-country challenge.

The 54 pupils at Acomb First School are once again taking on the Great School Run as part of their packed sports schedule.

And they were lucky enough to be nominated for a pre-run visit from the Great School Run activation tour.

Nature fanatics can meet explorer Conrad Dickinson in a special event designed for families.

The Hexham-born action-man has travelled on expeditions to Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen in Norway, Mount Logan in Yukon, Canada and the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, among others.

In 2004, he travelled from the edge of the Antarctic continent to the South Pole unsupported and then kited back, before completing the "Polar grand slam" by skiing unsupported to the North Pole in 53 days, becoming the first Briton to do so.

Between 10.30am and 5pm on June 6, he will take part in the wildlife charity's Family Wildlife Day at Northumbrian Water's Leaplish Waterside Park in the Kielder Water and Forest Park.

For more details, call Northumberland Wildlife Trust on 0191 284 6884 or email mail@northwt.org.uk

Each week Journal Extra talks to someone from the county about their passion for where they live. This week Sean Ferguson of Hexham Army Cadets answers the questions:

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Sean Ferguson and I am in charge of Hexham Army Cadets which are based at the TA Centre in Hexham. We parade every Monday and Thursday from 7-9pm.

A popular ceilidh will be back in Northumberland when one of the county's big music events begins next week.

People will be dancing to local folk bands during the Hexham Gathering, which runs from Wednesday until Sunday May 30.

Folk fans enjoy a ceilidh in Sele Park at the culmination of the Hexham Gathering

One of the focuses of the event is on getting more and more youth and local groups to play at the festival and this year the organisers have included arts centre The Hearth at Horsley so as to be more inclusive rather than everything being based in Hexham.