A telecoms giant is facing a second rejection of plans to put up a mobile phone mast in the heart of one of the region's most upmarket housing estates - raising the prospect that it could revert to a site outside a school.

Five months ago county councillors refused Telefonica O2 permission to erect a 12.5metre-high mast outside the local first school in Darras Hall following protests from parents and other residents.

But it later transpired that the refusal was invalid because it did not happen within the required 56 days of the application being received.

The blunder left O2 free to go ahead and install the mast - but the company agreed to hold talks with the council and then came up with an alternative plan to site a 15-metre-high pole 215 metres along The Broadway (pictured Vivienne Whyte, who is with local residents protesting against proposed plans to erect a 'radio base station' mast on Broadway in Darras Hall).

That new site has provoked a fresh storm of protest, with more than 300 local people and businesses putting their names to letters of objection and a petition.

A hall in Northumberland will host a tribute night in support of North East cancer sufferers.

Kirkley Hall, near Ponteland, is holding the night in honour of the famous 1970s New York nightclub Studio 54. It is being held on November 21 from 8.30pm. Tickets cost £15, with a percentage being donated to Cancer Research UK.

To book, contact martin.5.williams@btinternet.com or Graeme Cook on (01670) 841235 or 07944 850114.

Church and civic leaders in Ponteland will gather next month for the launch of a new community meeting place in the town.

The facility, at the United Reformed Church in Broadway, Darras Hall, will be officially opened at 11am on November 7, when local people are invited to come along.

The URC community hub will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday for coffee and tea.

A grateful teenager who survived a malignant brain tumour has raised thousands of pounds for a Tyneside hospital unit that offers hope to other young people stricken by cancer.

Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Lee, pictured with sisters Jessica, 12, and Stephanie, 9, was determined to repay medical staff for the life-saving treatment and care she received after being diagnosed with a medulloblastoma - an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Now she has raised a magnificent £8,500 for the children's cancer ward at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary - and vital research into medulloblastoma - by holding a charity auction night.

Heddon finally secured their first Northern Alliance league victory at the eleventh attempt against Killingworth Sporting.

Heddon had a hat-trick hero in Danny Robinson after John Pearson opened their account with Killy's two replies coming from Kevin Westphal and Jorge Bollado.

Heddon are now three points better off than bottom side Newcastle University, who played out a goalless draw at Ponteland United

The students usually enjoy their visits to the Leisure Centre and have been a thorn in the side of United in recent years.

Today was no exception and despite their low position in the league the students gave a good account of themselves.

Pont couldn't get to grips with the formation and movement of the opponents midfield and it was Anzevui in the heart of the Ponts defence that kept the students at bay particularly in the early stages.

Work on developing a community action plan for the Ponteland and Stamfordham area will be progressed at the meeting of the local community forum next month.

It will be held on Thursday, November 12, at 7.30pm in Ponteland Memorial Hall, Darras Road.

Planners have been bombarded with protests from angry residents over the latest bid to put up a mobile phone mast.

More than 220 people have fired off letters of objection to the revised plans by telecoms giant Telefonica O2 to erect the 15m-high pole in Broadway, Darras Hall, Northumberland.

They are furious that the mast is now being proposed near their homes - just months after a previous application to site it 200m along the road was rejected by county councillors.

Health care chiefs have given the go ahead for a £200m investment in services in Northumberland, including a new emergency care hospital on the outskirts of Cramlington.

Wansbeck and North Tyneside hospitals will see significant investment while community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle will be rebuilt.

The package of measures was approved yesterday at a meeting of the NHS North of Tyne Trust.

Riders were on call again for a popular Jeanette Brakewell two-day clinic at Pastures New Equestrian near Kirkheaton in North Tynedale.

The equine centre run by Zoe Bell, who also employs a head groom in Beth Gowens, contains an all-weather dura track pro arena 60mtr x 40mtr completed a year ago this weekend.

From left, Sarah Dodd, Jeanette Brakewell, Jess Bell, Splash, Zoey McLean, Beth Gowans and Lauren Caffey

The construction was undertaken by Lancashire-based company Peter Heap and is the only surface of its type in the country.