News from the Choppington area is now covered by a revamped Bedlington community website from The Journal.

Visit www.journallive.co.uk/bedlington to take a look at the improved pages, including a new layout, more useful local information, an events calendar, news from the wider county and an interactive map.

These pages are no longer being updated.

Bright yellow balloons were released into the sky today in memory of tragic transplant teenager Leanne Nicholson.

The bubbly 19-year-old, of Choppington, in Northumberland, died a year ago today after her body rejected a second donor heart.

Leanne became one of only five youngsters in more than 20 years to have two heart swaps at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, first in 2002 and again in 2008.

Hundreds more council jobs are set to be axed in Northumberland as town hall bosses seek a further £40m in budget savings over the next year.

Up to 1,000 posts in the county council's 7,000-strong workforce are potentially at risk - on top of around 1,300 which have been shed over the last two years.

A two-week trawl for further voluntary redundancy applications was launched yesterday, after employees were briefed by their department heads about the latest budget cuts facing the unitary authority.

Community Wildlife is for projects that help people discover, enjoy and protect wildlife in their local area.

Now open to organisations including voluntary and community organisations, schools, town and parish councils, and statutory health authorities. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available.

There is up to £2 million available across the UK and organisations can submit applications before the three deadlines of 21July, 22 September and the 24 November 2010.

For further details and to get an application form visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/communitywildlife, or call our helpline on:
0845 367 0610.
For more ideas for projects visit www.bbc.co.uk/wild

Supporters of a popular country and western music club have said an emotional farewell to the venue where they have been based for almost 18 years and raised £50,000 for good causes.

Tears were shed at the Wansbeck Country Club's last ever fundraising evening at Bedlington Community Centre, as they prepared to move out to a new home because of continuing uncertainty over the building's future.

The club is relocating to nearby Bomarsund Colliery Welfare where it will continue with its long-running monthly musical evenings held to raise cash for medical and other charities.

A forum which works to improve life for Northumberland children with special needs is looking to recruit new members.

An appeal has gone out for more parents and carers to join the organisation and come up with ideas and suggestions to move its work forward.

The Northumberland Parent, Carer and Professional Forum aims to help families across the county which have youngsters with special needs.

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."

Hundreds of elderly and disabled people who are too frail to use buses are set to be helped by a new cut-price travel scheme in Northumberland.

Anger erupted earlier this year when county council budget cuts threatened to bring the axe down on concessionary taxi travel for people physically unable to use other forms of public transport.

The council said it was planning to scrap four taxi schemes - which operated in Blyth Valley, Tynedale, Castle Morpeth and Wansbeck - to save £70,000 a year. Now it has had a change of heart and plans to launch a new, county-wide scheme on July 1 which involves people paying £10 for £50 worth of taxi tokens.

A new project is offering unemployed people in Northumberland a route into work by becoming taxi drivers.

Those who successfully complete a training programme are guaranteed an interview with a local taxi firm and vacancies are currently available in the Blyth, Cramlington, Morpeth and Ashington areas.

First piloted in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in 2006, the scheme was later rolled out in Teesside, Sunderland and Durham, and has seen more than 70 people find employment.

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.