Independent rural petrol stations are facing an increasing battle just to survive, as they struggle to compete with their bigger rivals.

Many of the stations also act as convenience stores in their local communities, but dozens have closed over the last few years, in yet another blow to the rural economy.

Gordon Moore, pictured, who owns the Border Reiver Station in Knowesgate, Northumberland, said the margin on fuel from his station is tiny.

A former cattle byre in Allendale has become a gallery for 10 of the region's ceramic artists.

It is also home to a huge wood-fired kiln that was built last year by Andrew Pentland, pictured, an artist and ceramics instructor at Newcastle College.

The kiln is a rare example of its type in the north of England.

The North East's only Conservative MP has returned more than £100 in "gardening" expense claims.

Hexham's Peter Atkinson last month told The Journal his claims were reasonable for his second home in London.

But he declared being ready to repay money if ordered to do so by an internal party panel examining Tory MPs' expense claims.

More meetings are to be held in Northumberland to allow people to have their say on £200m proposals for new and improved hospitals in the county.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust has drawn up plans for a new specialist emergency care centre near Cramlington, plus improvements to Wansbeck General and the rebuilding of community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.

But the changes would see the closure of emergency departments at Wansbeck and Hexham General, moves which have caused some concern with patients.

Finance chiefs at Northumberland's cash-strapped super council are trying to recover almost £9m in unpaid council tax inherited from the county's former district authorities.

The huge debt has been revealed following the abolition of Berwick, Alnwick, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale, Wansbeck and Blyth Valley councils on April 1 - and their replacement by the all-purpose unitary council.

Allendale 1st XI V Stocksfield. Allendale won by 6 Wickets

Match report sent in by Gareth Mews of Allendale CC

Allendale vice captain and Crazy Frog impersonator Ant White assumed the reigns at Riding Haugh on Saturday as Allendale continued their recent run of good form.

Play began late after a heavy shower or two and with inclement conditions forecast, the home skipper asked his guests to bat.

There was a buzz about the fielding side who were really fired up after not being invited to Chairman John Mews' impromptu early morning barbeque.

Sian Warden added this beautiful photo shot through the trees at Allen Banks to the Your Place Northumberland Flickr group.

Older people in Northumberland are threatening a revolt against new charges for day centre care which are being brought in by the county's cash-strapped super council.

Apart from meal and transport costs, attendance at day centres has been free for elderly and disabled people until now. But means-tested fees are being introduced to help County Hall bosses make savings on their adult care budget.

Day centre clients are being assessed and told how much they will have to contribute to their care each week, based on their income and savings.

Anger has erupted after people in Northumberland were sent warning letters and court summonses by their new super council wrongly stating they had not paid their council tax.

The 'intimidating' letters have been sent out to some householders who had already paid their monthly council tax bills because of problems which have been affecting the unitary authority's revenues and benefits section since April 1.

A bin revolt is taking place in Tynedale after nearly two thirds of householders refused to pay for their brown recycling bins.

Northumberland County Council demanded £20 for each bin, to continue recycling services.

The brown bins, for garden waste, had been issued by Tynedale Council, but due to council restructuring, the unitary authority took over and imposed the new rules.