Rapid and severe flooding in the Cheviots over a weekend last September is estimated to have cost farming and shooting businesses between £2m and £3m.

The figure comes from a study into the flooding caused by intense and prolonged rainfall on the Breamish and Till catchment areas and Bowmont Water on the Scottish side of the Cheviots.

Flooding near Milfield in September 2008

The work, by Newcastle University's Centre for Rural Economy, was commissioned by Cheviot Futures, a new partnership which aims to support farmers, businesses and communities in adapting to the impacts of a changing climate.

National Park rangers have issued alerts for walkers planning to head into the Cheviots.

Following the recent heavy rain, several popular paths have been disrupted. The College, Harthope, Breamish and Coquet Valleys have all been affected, as well as the Beaumont on the Scottish side.

Particular problem areas are a footpath washed out past Langleeford Hope in the Harthope Valley, where there is considerable damage right the way up this footpath (grid reference NT930206). It is passable, but care should be taken.

Crowds flocked to the annual Glendale Festival in Wooler, Northumberland.

The event, held in the town's bus station and the closed off High Street, offered a host of entertainment, mostly free of charge.

Organisers Glendale Gateway Trust laid on musical events, a flower festival, a car boot sale, a craft fair, a food fair and entertainment for children.

The headteacher of a school which closed its doors for the last time on Friday has warned that others will suffer the same fate.

Dave Vero was head at Milfield First School, near Wooler in Northumberland, which has been shut down due to falling pupil numbers making it no longer viable.

By its last day, the school had only seven full and two part-time pupils.

More than 130 years of schooling in a Northumberland village came to an end on Friday, amid emotional scenes.

Milfield First School, near Wooler, closed its doors for the last time two months after Northumberland County Council decided to shut it.

The loss of the village's only school came after an approach to the council by governors who were concerned that falling pupil numbers were making it no longer viable. On its last day the school had a roll of just seven full-time and two part-time pupils.

Its closure is the end of an era for Milfield where a school first opened in 1874.

Six people were injured in a crash in north Northumberland.

Police were called to the accident, at the junction of the B6396 and the B6352 at Mindrum, near Wooler.

A Peugeot and a Vauxhall Astra travelling in opposite directions collided. Five people suffered minor injuries while one passenger was stable at Borders General Hospital yesterday.

Residents, businesses and organisations across Northumberland are being asked to have their say on a major review which will shape future car parking policy in the county.

County council bosses are undertaking the review in a bid to devise suitable management arrangements for all of the car parks that it owns or manages.

The exercise will also help county councillors decide whether to leave car parking free in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck, or introduce charges similar to those currently facing motorists in towns such as Berwick, Alnwick, Hexham and Morpeth.

Hospitals in Northumberland have been given top marks by a national body set up to improve patient care.

All 10 hospitals run by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were rated as "excellent" by the National Patient Safety Agency.

Pictured from top left: Alnwick Infirmary, Berwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, Morpeth Cottage Hospital, Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital and Wansbeck General Hospital

It is one of only 32 trusts in England to achieve the highest rating in all categories for each of its hospital sites in the agency's annual Patient Environment Action Team assessments.

The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is giving people the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposals for £200m improvements to hospital services.

The NHS proposes a specialist emergency care hospital for people in Northumberland and North Tyneside, improvements to Wansbeck and North Tyneside general hospitals and rebuilding community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.

The changes would see the closure of emergency departments at Wansbeck and Hexham General.

A Northumberland woman wants your childhood memories to help uncover the history of a county show.

Berwick archivist Linda Bankier and colleagues are putting together an exhibition charting the history of the Glendale Show as part of an ongoing food heritage project.

They already have many items of interest from the Records Office and the show's own archives, but hope people will come forward and bring the information to life with personal experiences.