A Northumberland couple is among hundreds of British tourists left trapped in Thailand after an anti-government protest in the capital's airport.

It has been six days since members of the People's Alliance for Democracy first occupied Bangkok's main airport, leaving more than 3000 people stranded.

Alan and Lorraine Hindmarsh of Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, are among the holidaymakers whose sunshine trips to south-east Asia have now become embroiled in confusion, as the pair do not know when they will be able to jet home.

People in Northumberland are getting good adult social care, according to a new national inspection.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection has given Northumberland's adult services department a two-star rating, and says it has "excellent capacity" for improvement.

Civic leaders in Blyth Valley will attend the official switch-on of Seaton Delaval's Christmas lights display at a ceremony starting at 5pm on Sunday.

Conservatives have chosen Barry Flux, 26, to take on battle hardened Labour MP Ronnie Campbell in Blyth Valley at the next general election.

Mr Flux, a public sector worker, is an executive member of Newcastle Conservatives and a past chairman. He's already cut his teeth in local elections, beating Labour into third place in Lib Dem-held South Jesmond in May.

Mr Campbell, 65, is defending a majority of 8,527.

They've had to begin again at the bottom of the pile, but the rebirth of Seghill RFC is one of the feel-good stories of the North East rugby season.

After being forced to drop out of Durham and Northumberland Three last season after player numbers dwindled, the future of the Cramlington area club, set up in 1921, was in genuine peril.

A summer of regrouping and badgering former players to rejoin the club helped resurrect competitive rugby at Welfare Park - and director of rugby Chris Jenkins and first-team coach Paul Quick are leading the team's charge back up the leagues.

THIS was a concert set against the tale of two halls.

The Peter Donegan Band's performance raised around £800 for the National Trust's campaign to buy Seaton Delaval Hall and 450 acres of surrounding countryside for public enjoyment.

The band packed out Seaton Delaval Arts Centre and the venue proved to be particularly apt.

Seaton Delaval went through to the third round of the Longhorn Hardware Stan Seymour League Cup after a hard-fought victory over Willington Quay Saints.

The game was goalless for two hours and Seaton Delaval scraped through 3-1 on penalties.

The vast majority of people in Blyth Valley who responded to a consultation exercise on local government reform have backed the idea of creating three new town and parish councils in the borough.

They would be Blyth Town Council, Cramlington Town Council and Seaton Valley Parish Council.

Newcastle United shot-stopper Shay Given has backed The Journal's bid to save a Northumberland stately home.

Seaton Delaval Hall, near Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, could be sold to private owners after Lord Hastings, the current owner, decided to sell-up.

National Trust bosses have pledged £6.9m of the charity's money to save the hall, but desperately need to raise a further £6.3 million before Christmas.

Diehard Sunderland football supporter Peter Connon changed his allegiance for the day yesterday - by wearing a Newcastle United black and white top.

The 53-year-old father of four, who has Sunderland's black cat emblem tattooed on his right leg, was challenged by pals to wear the colours of his hated rivals.

He was at the Blake Arms pub in Seghill, Northumberland, where his son Ritchie, 30, plays for the football team, to watch Sunderland's match against West Ham yesterday.