World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton has been voted the Greatest Living Northumbrian in a poll on the Your Place microsites.

The Ashington-born footballer won 27% of the votes, beating actor Robson Green (17%) and comedian Ross Noble (15%).

Other nominees in the poll were Sir Bobby's brother Jack, musician Kathryn Tickell, cricketer Steve Harmison, the Duchess of Northumberland and darts commentator Sid Waddell.

Pupils in Allendale are looking to their surroundings to inspire them during National Storytelling Week.

The youngsters of Allendale Middle School are working on a series of monologues about life in and around their village.

Using books and stationery donated by supermarket giant Tesco, the children hope to create work reflecting their experiences of Allendale.

Allen Valley Churches Together is to host a Northumbrian Ceilidh on March 14.

Featuring the Over The Moon Ceilidh Band, the event starts at 7.30pm in Allendale Village Hall.

Tickets, which cost £5 or £15 for a family ticket, are available from Allendale Co-op and Shalom in Hexham.

Visitors are asked to bring a contribution to a shared supper.

There will be a bar and a raffle and profits will go to Christian Aid.

A serial burglar who spent decades touring the region and raiding rural homes has begun a nine-year jail term.

Anthony Graham targeted wealthy families in Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, creeping into their isolated properties and making off with treasured possessions.

The 50-year-old even plundered an historic castle of expensive antiques in his 30-year career as a "professional burglar".

After last week's fun poll to find Northumberland's favourite castle, this week we turn our attention to the important matter of finding the Greatest Living Northumbrian.

After much discussion in the Your Place office, we have come up with eight people who we think sum up all that is great about Northumberland.

From the world of sport, you can choose between World Cup winners Bobby and Jack Charlton, and the Ashington Express Steve Harmison. There's also comedian Ross Noble, folk musician Kathryn Tickell, actor Robson Green and darts commentator Sid Waddell. Finally, we've added the Duchess of Northumberland into the mix for her work in developing the Alnwick Garden.

You can vote below for your choice and the results will be revealed next Friday.

The Northumberland section of the National Federation of Young Farmers is hosting a competition that will bring teams of young agricultural workers from all over the North of the country into competition in a number of activities.

The Pussycat heifers - (part of the Ponteland and Stamfordham Entertainments cast who represented Northumberland in Blackpool 2008)

Each local group of the federation will put together its own team to take part in some traditional sports such as football and rugby, while there will also be some more unusual disciplines to contend with - such as a pantomime competition.

A new range of free courses is being put on this month at venues throughout the county.

The short bitesize courses provide an introduction into a variety of subjects, and include Computer Essentials, Working in Renewable Energies, Introduction to Alternative Therapy, Introduction to Retail Skills and Do You Want to Work in Tourism?

Northumberland's new unitary council has received a national award for its planning service.

The authority was given a commendation by the Royal Town Planning Institute for the innovative way it is merging the existing planning services in Northumberland.

A guide which aims to help older people in Northumberland make the most of their lives has been produced for a third time by popular demand.

A fundraising campaign to drum up sponsorship has allowed the publication of the latest edition of the Golden Guide for Older People.

The Journal's Your Place microsites now have a group on the photo sharing facility Flickr.

We're looking for people to share their photos of community events, local sports teams, animals, places, or local people, from the Allendale area or anywhere else in Northumberland.

Go to www.flickr.com/groups/northumberlandcommunities to view an existing selection of images from recent Northumberland stories, including a miniature pig, a champion body-builder, a wheelbarrow race and a celebrity cockerel, as well as scenes from September's devastating floods...

To add your photos to the group you will need to set up a free account with Flickr if you don't already have one.