TOURISM chiefs have launched a new campaign aimed at attracting more visitors and their spending power to Northumberland during the winter months.

Under the slogan 'Lights, Camera, Action', the latest drive is designed to further raise the profile of England's most northerly county as a tourist haven both regionally and nationally.

THE switch to a single council in Northumberland should be delayed to stop hundreds of job losses amid the recession, according to a Labour MP.

Blyth Valley's Ronnie Campbell warned now was not the time to lose jobs and has proposed a two-year delay to the new unitary authority, which is due to replace the existing district and county councils next year.

A POPULAR pub in Tynedale is doing its bit to help support local breweries.

Hexham MP Peter Atkinson joined regional development agency One North East's chair, Margaret Fay, pulling pints at the Barrasford Arms pub in Hexham to celebrate the return of beer pumps which had languished in the pub's loft for 30 years.

He said: "I enjoy visiting local pubs and trying a pint of beer brewed just a few miles down the road."

A PORTRAIT of a hare near Hexham in Northumberland has earned photographer Graham Dixon third place in the adult category of Northumberland Wildlife Trust's annual photography competition.

Graham, who lives near Hexham, was walking along a track leading towards moorland when he spotted the hare in the distance.

THE Princess Royal visited Northumberland yesterday to open a £10m swimming pool and gym.

Princess Anne was in Hexham to help celebrate the extension to Wentworth Leisure Centre.

The building now houses two swimming pools, fun and splash areas and a gym.

HUNDREDS of council workers across Northumberland have expressed an interest in taking voluntary redundancy in the run-up to the biggest local government shake-up in the county's history.

More than 800 town hall employees have come forward to say they would consider accepting a payoff and getting out when the new unitary super council comes into being in April.

CONCERNS over Northumberland County Council's finances have deepened because it has £230m of debts after taking out £100m in loans.

North East Minister Nick Brown, pictured, said he would be urgently seeking advice over the situation, which comes after it emerged the council has £23m stuck in failed Icelandic banks.

IN the National League sixth-placed Tynedale extended their unbeaten home run to 30 games but the 29-20 margin over Southend should have been bigger.

Tom Casson's converted try for Southend was cancelled out by Jack Smailes and a Gavin Beasley kick off the post. Beasley's next kick, from Peter Cole, also struck the woodwork but bounced out.

Next time Cole touched down beneath the posts and Beasley's kick went clean over. He also converted Smailes' second try and added a penalty to seal the win.

WORK to improve river water quality in the Hexham area is to begin next week.

Northumbrian Water is to invest £850,000 to upgrade the sewerage network.

The work, which will begin on Wednesday and last for up to six months, will improve water quality in the River Tyne and Cockshaw Burn.

NORTHUMBERLAND council bosses yesterday declared they did not make mistakes over the £23m they invested in failed Icelandic banks.

But chief executive Steve Stewart and finance director Steven Mason said they are reviewing procedures.

The collapse of Iceland's banks was unprecedented and the council had followed guidelines.