Ponteland United travelled to second place Walker Central eager to avenge the 6 - 1 mauling they received at home in the third game of the season. With McIvor still suspended Gavin Wood retained his place to lead the attack and Richard Kent replaced Joe Dawson on the right of midfield.

Mark Rasmussen on the left for Walker was looking lively in the early stages and had one good long range effort saved by Havelock and cleared by Dummett. The early pressure remained with the hosts but they were stunned after 10 minutes when Ponteland broke down the left and a cross from Dummett was headed on by Wood to Kent who hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the right hand side of the goal area.

Overnight stays in Hadrian's Wall country have hit record levels, a report next week will reveal.

Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd launches its annual review next week.

It shows June this year saw the highest ever levels of overnight accommodation occupancy in Hadrian's Wall Country of 80%, compared to 63% in Cumbria and the Lake District and 58% in the rest of the North East. This is a significant increase from the previous summer.

Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC) is to take The Last Snow Rider by Ann Coburn round village halls and small arts centres across the country this winter, beginning tonight.

The play will be at the Knott Memorial Hall in Heddon-on-the-Wall for a 3pm matinee performance on the 19th December and at Capheaton Village Hall on the 23rd and 24th at 7.00pm and 1.30pm respectively.

The cast includes NTC regulars Kim Evans and Gemma Clough and newcomers William Reay from Bellingham and Christopher Ranson.

Visit www.northumberlandtheatre.co.uk for a full list of performances and contact details for tickets.

Families fighting plans to erect a mobile phone mast in the heart of their upmarket community are to be addressed by a leading expert on the issue of health risks posed by radiation.

Hundreds of local people are expected to attend a public meeting in Darras Hall, Ponteland, next month at which the guest speaker will be academic and author Barry Trower from Dartmoor.

Mr Trower - a scientific adviser to the Radiation Research Trust - has been involved with radiation research since the 1960s.

Investigations are being carried out after almost 2,000 fish were killed in a pollution incident on a stretch of river in Northumberland.

The incident - described as serious by pollution watchdog the Environment Agency - resulted in almost all the fish dying along about 11km of the River Pont between Ponteland and Matfen.

It was reported a month ago by a passer-by who spotted dead fish floating in the water, although it is believed the poisoning happened a few days earlier.

There is still no respite for Heddon, who are still seeking their first home win of the campaign.

The Northumberland side remain isolated at the bottom, equal on points with Newcastle University who have played six games less than the Bullocksteads outfit.

Entertaining an Alnwick Town side which had just lost three league games on the trot, Heddon were beaten 2-1 as their misery continued.

Late in the first half, two goals by Kevin Elliott and Tony Brown set Alnwick up for the kill - and they held on for the points after Daniel Robinson got their hosts off the mark.

Ponteland United match report »

Below is a sneak preview of how tourism bosses believe Northumberland's identity could be portrayed in the future.

It follows an announcement from Northumberland Tourism that it plans to "present a new face to the world" in 2010.

As part of a re-focussing of advertising and promotion the travel chiefs are aiming to lure more big-spending holidaymakers to the area.

Agriculture students in Northumberland are learning about good health and safety procedures before they start working in the industry.

Principal Health and Safety Executive Inspector Richard Bulmer with Northumberland College at Kirkley Hall Animal Management students Sarah Phillips (left) and Katie Higginbottom

The Health and Safety Executive is targeting students at Northumberland College's Kirkley Hall campus with practical advice and guidance.

Shoppers are being urged to turn out and support a monthly market in Northumberland whose future is under threat because of dwindling numbers.

A question mark has been raised over Ponteland farmers' market after only 150 people turned up in September, and just 170 last month.

Organisers have issued a "use it or lose it" message and are calling for as many shoppers as possible to come along to the next event, which will be held on Saturday in the Memorial Hall, Darras Road, all morning from 9am.

A spokesman said: "The market is struggling and needs as much support as possible.''

Goods on sale on Saturday will include potatoes from Black Callerton Farm, lamb and mutton from Cold Coates Farm, ham, pork and bacon from Moor House Farm, and Northumbrian cooked meats.

Hadrian's Wall will be lit from east to west coast in an atmospheric event targeted at a national and international audience.

Gaslights placed at 500 points in 250-metre intervals will illuminate the length of the 84-mile Wall national trail from Wallsend on Tyneside across Northumberland to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria.

An artist's impression of Hadrian's Wall lit up by beacons

One of the main aims will be to highlight the vast scale of the world heritage site and its landscape.