Selfless students from south east Northumberland have been spending time making their town a nicer place to walk through with a bit of natural colour.

The community-minded pupils from Bedlington High School have been transforming redundant flower beds in Bedlington Station with 500 new plants.

They have done it thanks to support from local charity Stakeford Nurseries.

Deputy head at the high school Ron Hinshaw said: "This is an exciting new partnership which provides a diverse and rich learning experience for our students."

Neil Hedley from Stakeford Nurseries added: "It's great to be able to support local projects and when young people get stuck in the whole community benefits."

Children will be in for a treat if they brush their teeth properly.

More than 30 pupils aged five to eight from Ringway First School in Guidepost will be vying to win a trip to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth to see seals having their teeth brushed. All they need to do is take their brush to school and try to brush for the recommended two minutes without using a stopwatch.

The day is organised by Guidepost Dental Practice to encourage better brushing.

Cycling will be higher on the agenda in Northumberland after a charity expanded.

WATBus community transport charity took on a cycling development officer for their new WATBike department.

Colin Hall will help develop cycling in the county.

A county transport charity has had more success with thousands of pounds to develop its work.

WATBus secured a 'Bridging the Gap' grant from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

The £5,000 grant is to provide training and build the capacity of Watbus to help grow the business.

Northumberland's freshly elected MPs have set out what they hope to achieve for their county after being voted in during last week's General Election.

Writing today for the Northumberland community websites, new MP Ian Lavery lays out his hopes for the coming years.

Ian Lavery's statement

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who voted for me to become the Member of Parliament for Wansbeck and hope my work and unswerving commitment to local people and our communities will repay your faith and trust.

A major green drive to tackle the traffic congestion and air pollution caused by the daily school run in Northumberland has resulted in every school in the county getting on board.

Thousands more youngsters are now improving their health and fitness by walking or cycling to and from lessons each day, instead of being driven to the school gates in their parents' cars.

All 201 local education authority schools in Northumberland now have their own individual green travel plans - which means the county council has achieved its Government-set target of having them in place by March this year.

Six rival candidates for the Wansbeck seat at the General Election are set to face questions from the public at a special 'hustings' meeting next week.

The public meeting - which will be held in Ashington Leisure Centre on Tuesday, April 27, at 7pm - has been organised by the South East Northumberland Trades Council.

It aims to stimulate interest in the election and encourage as many people as possible to turn out and cast their votes on polling day, Thursday, May 6.

Pupils learned what life was like 500 years ago on a field trip.

Students in Year Six from West Sleekburn Middle School Primary Unit visited Woodhorn Museum as part of a history project on the Tudors. While at the museum the children took part in three workshops which helped them to experience what daily life was like nearly 500 years ago.

They explored the recreated parlour and kitchen and took part in role play activities involving preparing a Tudor banquet. Children also dressed up in Tudor clothes and took part in some traditional Tudor dances.

Lynne Mellor, co-ordinator of the Primary Unit said: "We encourage staff to arrange visits like these as they bring lessons to life as well as making for memorable experiences."

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.

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.