The Banks Group wants to extract an additional two million tonnes of coal from the 750-acre Shotton mine west of Cramlington - which was given the green light by the Government despite strong local opposition.

The latest plans, which would extend the life of the site by two years, will go on display at three public exhibitions.

The Scamnesty 2010 campaign runs from February 1 to 26 and will involve people dropping mail scams they receive through their letterbox into designated Scamnesty boxes which will be placed across Northumberland.

Online scams can also be reported via the virtual Scamnesty bin at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.

The meeting takes place at Ponteland Memorial Hall on February 2 at 7pm.

Members of the Morpeth and Ponteland Markets Forum will debate whether to continue with the Ponteland farmers' market in the face of a decrease in the number of shoppers using it.

It is hoped that Ponteland Town Council representatives and market producers will attend to have their say.

Organisers are looking for 500 people to help create the lights, which will stretch from one side of Britain to the other.

Artist's impression of the beacons lighting up Hadrian's Wall

Each of the volunteer "illuminators" will be part of a small team responsible for lighting one of the 500 individual points along the wall.

Close House Hotel at Heddon on the Wall is holding a wedding open day on Sunday from 11am until 4pm. Entry is free.

To find out more, e-mail events@closehouse.co.uk visit the website www.closehouse.co.uk or phone 01661 852255.

The films will be shown at St Mary's Church in Ponteland on January 9 at 3pm and 7.30pm.

Enthusiasts will be able to watch the information films Elizabethan Express from 1954, Holiday from 1957 and A Desperate Case from 1958.

The event is at Richard Coates Middle School, Thornhill Road on Saturday 12th December at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8 on the door, and proceeds will go to Northumberland Scouts Tall Ships 2010.

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.

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.

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.

More information about the event and how to donate a prize for the charity raffle is available by calling Guy Tiffin on (01434) 602-212.

We require caring and committed individuals to provide practical help of both a personal and domestic nature to clients in their own homes in the Ponteland area.

We are holding an Open Day on Tuesday 24 November 2009 at Ponteland Club & Institute Ltd, Merton Way from 10.00 am until 1.00 pm - so why not call in and see how you can make a difference to someone's life!

For further information or for an application pack call the HR & Training Team on 0845 140 00 88.

The festive tour is organised by Network Artists and takes place in twenty different venues in or near Northumberland, running on weekends until Christmas.

Art lovers will have the chance to look around at artists' work, often in beautiful surroundings, while enjoying a friendly seasonal welcome from the artists themselves.

At Kirkharle, textile artist Ingrid Wagner is welcoming visitors to her studio in the courtyard complex to browse her work, with knitting kits, needles and yarn also among the offerings. The studio will be open on Wednesdays and Sundays until the 20 December, from 10am- 5pm.

View the Christmas Art Tour leaflet at www.networkartists.org.uk for full details about the tour.

Santa Claus will take up residence in his grotto from noon on Sunday at Dobbies Garden World in Ponteland.

He will arrive in a horse drawn cart and be joined by some special guests, including Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Lion and the munchkins from the Wizard of Oz.

Visitors will be able to enjoy Christmas carols sung by the Tyneside Ladies Barber Shop singers, a live DJ, balloon modellers, face painting, story telling and magic shows.

Santa will be at the centre every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas Eve. Tickets cost £5 per child and booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.