Beleaguered council bosses in Northumberland have been left anxiously waiting for a key Government decision on whether they will have to find a further ã11m in "horrendous" budget cuts.
County council leaders expected to be told yesterday whether ministers will allow them to use a financial loophole to avoid having to make almost ã30m in savings this year.
But last night - as the authority revealed it has dropped plans to close a number of tourist information centres in Northumberland - there had still been no decision from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
A cut-price travel scheme for elderly and disabled people who are too frail to use buses looks set to become a victim of tough council budget cuts in Northumberland.
More than 800 vulnerable pensioners across the county use the scheme, which allows them concessionary travel in taxis because they are unable to use other forms of public transport.
They use council-issued vouchers, tokens or passes to pay for taxi trips to the shops, GP and hospital appointments or to visit relatives and friends.
A council facing serious financial problems is considering providing mortgages for people struggling to get a home loan because of the credit crunch.
Cash-strapped Northumberland County Council - which is having to make budget cuts of up to ã50m over two years - is thinking of using its capital resources to help would-be home buyers who are being frustrated by the continued squeeze on lending.
A report is being prepared for the Liberal Democrat executive in March on the possibility of the authority giving mortgages "in certain circumstances" to applicants unable to secure a loan from commercial lenders.
Traffic came to a standstill today after a wagon carrying a wind turbine blade broke down.
The driver of the vehicle, who was transporting the 40ft blade from Blyth to Scotland, pulled over on Laverock Hall Road, near Blyth, when he discovered a back wheel on the trailer was bent.
The dual carriageway was closed while the wagon was made safe. It reopened a few hours later.
A 'vital' community project may have to hand back some of its charitable funding because of fears over its future.
Blyth Resource and Initiative Centre (BRIC) may have to return about ã7,000 which was secured through the hard work of its staff and earmarked for its CV advice service, which helps jobseekers back into work.
People showing their support for Blyth Resource and Initiative Centre. Pictured front: Bob Watson of Seaton Valley Council
There is massive uncertainty about who in the voluntary sector will still get Northumberland County Council funding, with huge budget cuts due to be finalised next month.
Northern Alliance club Blyth Town returned to action this weekend.
In the Kicks Leisure League Cup, the scheduled tie at Chopwell was switched to Blyth's ground at South Newsham - and Blyth secured a 3-1 win.
Craig Hopwood gave the Town an interval lead which was later increased by Chris Lisle and then Neil Blades before Dave Fitzpatrick grabbed a late reply.
An oversight or otherwise, Blyth ceased updating results on their website three games - a win and two heavy defeats - ago.
You sense they will resume now, having belatedly emerged, and how, from winter hibernation with a thrilling victory over seventh-placed Stalybridge, the best away side in Blue Square North.
Yet with only a single game in over a month and former manager Steve Burr departed to Kidderminster, if Celtic were undercooked or under-coached, it did not show from the off.
A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a loving dad.
Barry Self suffered facial injuries in an alleged attack at a New Year's Eve party on Gateshead's Leam Lane Estate.
The 38-year-old from Blyth was found unconscious in the snow in the early hours of New Year's Day, shortly after leaving the party.
Wayne Neesam took this photo at Blyth beach on a brisk Saturday morning and added it to our Northumberland group on the photo-sharing website Flickr.
Join the group to share your photos or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk.
Blyth Library will be closed from 1pm on Monday February 1 to 9am on Thursday 4 to allow the essential replacement of shelving on its ground floor.
The current shelves have been in place for more than 25 years and are showing signs of deterioration, so they are being replaced on health and safety grounds.
The town's South Beach and Cowpen Libraries will be open during much of the period and can be contacted on 01670 363091 and 798104 for information.
Blyth Links
Wildlife - With Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
Ronnie Campbell - MP for Blyth Valley
Blyth Valley Scouts - Stu Bennett
Alan Hoyle - Basketball and local news
Blyth All-Weather Lifeboat - Barry Elliott
Jo Edwards - Local issues and news
John Dawson - History tales
We want to publish your blog on one of our community websites. Find out more.
Keep up to date subscribe to our RSS feed
Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy in relation to the use of this website
"Has anyone tried to take NHS to court for not providing enough of information and not being open abo..."
"Сдесь прокат автомобиля по минимальных тарифах..."
"i went to this school!!!!!!..."
"It's perfect time to make a few plans for the long run and it is time to be happy. I've learn this p..."
"Don't you know that it's correct time to get the credit loans, which will make you dreams real. ..."
"i went to easthart ford and hillcrest i went to east hart ford in 1985 and went to hillcrest in 1987..."
"Greatbto see that the Wensleydale tradition continues at New Deleval. I'm sure the kids had a great ..."
""I was walking my dogs around land we have access to for shooting" ??? For shooting what exactly?..."
"According to a Co-op survey the ten least trusted professions in the UK are: 1. Politicians 2. Bank..."
"I think its brilliant news. blyth has needed a big supermarket in the town centre for awhile. Ill de..."