The 27-year-old is set to cycle hundreds of miles in a gruelling event he created himself and is searching for two like-minded souls to get on the saddle and join him.

Lee, of Stakeford near Choppington, planned the route called Cap-to-Cap, a mammoth bike ride around all of the British Isles' capital cities, to raise money for charities based in the region.

Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell (pictured) branded the summer event 'a weekend out for toffs'.

He strongly criticised Northumberland County Council - which is in the midst of making budget cuts totalling £40m over two years - for earmarking £80,000 to stage the high-profile equestrian event.

A 6ft mural of the 1970s comic book character Cerebus the Aardvark had brightened up a bridge near Blyth for nearly three decades until its disappearance last weekend.

Despite its popularity, Northumberland County Council blitzed the colourful design as part of a crackdown on graffiti.

Previous issues of the Golden Guide have gone down so well with the over-50s that there was a waiting list for the latest 5,000-copy print run.

The free booklet, which is produced by community information specialists Clever Clogs Publishing in partnership with Age Concern Northumberland, the county council and care trust, has also been given a new design.

We are running two presentations at 11.30am and 1.30pm, followed by the opportunity to discuss, with our experienced staff, the job vacancies and career prospects in further detail.

For further information on our Recruitment Fair and our other opportunities available or for an application pack call the HR & Training Team on 0845 140 00 88.

The choir meets for rehearsals every Thursday at 7.30pm in Ashington High School.

Anyone interested in joining is welcome to come along, or can make contact with the choir by calling Bob Brind on 01670 790169.

Local community forums are about to start a six-month programme of public engagement, including public meetings, to help draw up community plans, which will influence future decisions and changes.

Meetings will take place in the Choppington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Ellington, Linton and Lynemouth areas.

For further information, contact Lynda Fakir, Locality Development Officer for South East Northumberland on 0845 600 6400, email Lynda.Fakir@northumberland.gov.uk or visit northumberland.gov.uk.

The Woodfuel Centre in West Sleekburn, run by Blyth Star Enterprises which helps people with mental health issues, has seen deliveries increase fourfold during the recent cold snap.

Barry Lyden and Neil Hedley delivering logs from Blyth Star Enterprise's Woodfuel Centre in West Sleekburn

The extra work has provided disabled people and those with mental health problems with vital work experience which can help them to get into full-time work.

Every year since 1991, scores of leather-clad motorcyclists have taken part in the annual Easter Egg run organised by the Northumberland Bikers' club.

They collected thousands of chocolate eggs donated by customers at various pubs and clubs and then set off in a huge motorbike convoy to deliver them to children and elderly people in hospitals and homes across Northumberland and Tyneside.

A dozen libraries in the county have been earmarked for closure as Northumberland County Council looks to make massive savings in the next budget.

Libraries at Ashington Hirst, Lynemouth, Kielder, Bedlington Station, Blyth South Beach (pictured) and Hadston were first in line for the axe because of their alleged low usage, under initial consultations on £16m worth of cuts.

In Morpeth there were break-ins at the Pizza Pizza takeaway, the Treasure Chinese restaurant, both on Bridge Street, and an attempted burglary at the Hot Potato takeaway, in Newgate Street, at around the same time.

Sorrento Pizzeria, and the Rendezvous pizza shop in Ashington, were also raided and Dilshad Indian takeaway, on Ashington Drive, Stakeford and Jenny's Chippy, on Front Street East, Bedlington were also targeted. Anyone with any information should call 03456 043 043.

Northumberland County Council is trying to get back to a normal bin collection routine.

A spokeswoman said: "There has inevitably been disruption to the bin collection service in Northumberland due to the recent winter weather conditions - particularly in the more rural areas of the county.

"The council is asking residents to refer to the normal collection timetable for their area, and place the correct coloured bin out on the next scheduled collection day. Where a bin has been missed the council will collect additional bags of waste on the next visit.

Every winter thousands more people die due to the effects of cold weather than in the warmer seasons and many cannot afford to heat their homes. The Northumberland Warm Zone team, based in Blyth, wants householders to be aware of the financial support which is available to them to make their homes greener and warmer.

Northumberland County Council alerts and reminders »

Choppington weather links »

Motorists are being urged to avoid the A68 in Northumberland where snow and ice have brought traffic to a standstill in the West Woodburn area.

Traffic is also badly affected at Thrunton Woods on the A697.

Snow on the A1 in Northumberland is also causing problems for motorists, with extreme caution being urged.

With more snow forecast over the next few days Northumbria Police is advising motorists to exercise extreme caution, particularly when driving on untreated roads, and remember to follow advice for driving in wintry conditions.