Continuing last week's coastal theme, Environment Editor Tony Henderson talks to an artist who knows every nook and cranny along the region's shoreline.

When artist Ron Thornton, who lives in Riding Mill, read last Saturday's report in The Journal about a pioneering management plan to protect the Northumbrian coast, he could not have been more pleased.

For Ron has devoted a lot of time and energy over the past two and a half years on the North East coastline.

Jerry Harrison added this shot of a large bale of straw at a farm at Old Hartley to our Northumberland Flickr group.

If you would like to submit any photos for the Journal Extra Your View page or for display on this website you can send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

Shop staff are getting help to go green at home and at work thanks to a partnership with the Energy Saving Trust.

Employees at Marks & Spencer's Newcastle store were invited to take a home energy check which could cut their bills and help the environment.

And lucky Christine Mosely of Seaton Delaval had a home visit from the trust's energy doctor Sue Vickers, to show her where she could save money and energy.

Shankhouse celebrated their first home win in the Northern Alliance Premier Division after beating Seaton Delaval 3-1.

Michael Bell and Mark Watson put Shankhouse on track before Paul Swithenbank scored a third before half-time from the spot after a handling offence by Delaval's Dean Taylor saw him red carded. Connal Reed replied for the visitors.

Seaton Delaval are lying fourth from bottom with 11 points from as many games.

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.

Distraught family and friends are mourning the loss a Northumberland man who died following a tragic accident while on holiday in Greece.

Paul Thompson, 35, suffered severe injuries after falling and hitting his head shortly after arriving on the sunshine island of Zakynthos last month.

It is believed he slipped and fell by a swimming pool at his resort and he was taken to a local hospital, where he lapsed into a coma.

A fire tore through an empty house after concerned neighbour contacted the emergency services.

Firefighters were called at around 5.30pm to Kearsly Close, Seaton Delaval, after the blaze broke out in the ground-floor flat.

No one was inside the house at the time of the fire and it is still unclear what sparked the incident.

Two of Northumberland County Council's planning committees are set to be merged because of their light workloads and the need to make further efficiency savings.

A report is expected to go to the executive next month on amalgamating the south area committee, which deals with planning applications in Blyth Valley, and the east committee, which covers Wansbeck.

The USP for Rachel Brown's yummy cakes and muffins is that they are also available for those suffering from food allergies, as Katharine Capocci reports

Rachel Brown's Yummylicious business offers a range of celebration cakes, sweet and savoury muffins and ever-popular cupcakes, but some have a twist.

As well as a wide range of calorie-laden goodies, her Northumberland-based company offers a tempting array of home-baked fare in dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free varieties too.

Bright spark Alistair Brummitt has made a red hot start to his working life - by winning a competition to find the country's best young welder.

Former Northumberland College student Alistair, 20, successfully carried the torch for the county in the contest to select England's top trainee.

Now the first-year apprentice - who works for Seaton Delaval pipework fabrication company Pipetawse Ltd - has started a new course in welding and fabrication at South Tyneside College in a bid to further hone his skills.