Flood warnings were in force around Northumberland this morning as residents were bracing themselves for yet more downpours.

Up to three inches of rainwater fell on the North East's already saturated ground yesterday, with a similar amount forecast for today. The banks of the River Coquet at Rothbury burst and conditions caused flooding in low-lying areas around the River Wansbeck, as well as in Gateshead and Sunderland.

Extreme weather in Scotland caused a landslide on to the tracks between Dunbar and Berwick. Last night East Coast Main Line services were halted and bosses were considering replacement bus services.

Environment Agency flood warnings »

Choppington weather links »

More on the weather problems from around the North East »

A climate campaigner and a leading figure from the coal industry will battle over Northumberland's energy future when the two stand at the next general election.

Malcolm Reid (pictured left) is standing in the Wansbeck constituency to take on National Union of Mineworkers president Ian Lavery (right), who was selected to defend the seat currently held by Labour's Denis Murphy.

Mr Reid - who has been a leading campaigner against plans by RWE npower for a £2bn clean coal power station at Cambois - says Mr Lavery, more than any other person in Britain, symbolises a return to coal.

Fun for all the family is promised in South East Northumberland this Easter.

Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure's Make-a-Move Leisure Inclusion Team has put together a programme telling parents and children what's going on over the holidays.

The programme covers the whole of South East Northumberland, including leisure centres, parks and open spaces as well as activities organised by Sure Start, Silx Teen Bar, Sustrans, Northumberland Play team, Ground Works and Northumbria Police.

It is available through schools, leisure centres, council offices and on www.bval.co.uk (opens as pdf)

Two projects helping unemployed people in Northumberland have been awarded grants worth more than £72,000.

The cash from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) will help to create and safeguard jobs in Ashington and Blyth Valley, as well as provide opportunities for the unemployed to learn new skills and gain practical qualifications.

Wansbeck Centre for Voluntary Service (CVS), on Station Road in Ashington, has been awarded £67,192 for a new project called Skills for Employment, which will run for one year from next month.

A bid to boost children's learning standards in deprived communities by creating Northumberland's third academy school have taken a significant step forward.

County council leaders have agreed to submit a "statement of intent" to the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) for an academy in Bedlington - which would be part of a schools reorganisation in the town.

Members of the Liberal Democrat executive have also agreed to earmark cash to fund the primary element of the shake-up in the authority's medium-term capital plan.

A lecturer from the North East has been elected to the top role of her trade union.

Kathy Taylor, who works at Northumberland College, has been made the new president of the University and College Union (UCU).

She beat candidates from Lancashire and London in an election that will see her serve as vice-president for two years before becoming national president in 2012. She has been a lecturer at the college in Ashington since 1986 and was until recently head of the business, administration and trade union studies department.

There are less than two weeks left for people to sign up for our fantastic Tokens for Schools competition.

The Journal, in partnership with Barclays Money Skills, has £20,000 to give away to schools across our region.

But time is running out to register to take part, so we are reminding people to fill in the form (see below) and be in with a chance to win some cash.

A number of schools in the region have already registered, including Cambo First School, in Cambo, near Morpeth (pictured). The prize money can be used to fund any educational project the school chooses - like a school trip, new books or a garden.

Councillors will today be asked to approve controversial plans to apply for a city academy to be set up to replace a secondary school.

Northumberland County Council's cabinet will meet this afternoon. Members are being recommended to approve proposals for an academy to be set up in Bedlington.

If approved, there will also be changes to other schools in the Bedlington Partnership.

School children who spent months raising money to fund their class trip have been left devastated after thieves swiped the entire collection.

Enterprising youngsters at Stakeford First School did odd jobs, washed cars, and sold hand-made Christmas cards to make more than £700 to help cover costs of their annual visit to the Robinwood Activity Centre, in Alston.

Morgan Brown from Stakeford First School

But thieves struck when the school was closed for the night, last week, and took every penny of the children's hard-earned cash.

Police are appealing for information following the theft of motorbikes from properties in two Northumberland villages last weekend.

The first, a black Better 125cc, was stolen between 9am on Thursday and 7.30am on Saturday from South View, Cambois. And a red and black Keeway Fact 125cc was taken from Oxford Road, Stakeford between 11pm on Friday and 10am on Saturday. Police believe the thefts are linked to a previous incident in which a motorbike was stolen from a garage in Bedlington Station.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 03456 043043 ext 69191, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.