World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton has been voted the Greatest Living Northumbrian in a poll on the Your Place microsites.

The Ashington-born footballer won 27% of the votes, beating actor Robson Green (17%) and comedian Ross Noble (15%).

Other nominees in the poll were Sir Bobby's brother Jack, musician Kathryn Tickell, cricketer Steve Harmison, the Duchess of Northumberland and darts commentator Sid Waddell.

The world's first zero-emission electric 4x4 cars are to be manufactured in Northumberland, The Journal can reveal.

Oxford-based company Liberty Electric Cars has signed an understanding with development bosses at One North East to invest £30m into manufacturing the cars at Nelson Industrial Estate in Cramlington.

Barry Shrier, Liberty Electric Cars CEO, left, and Ian Hobday, Liberty Electric Cars Chairman

The company, which is in discussions with major suppliers in the region, are to start manufacturing the cars later this year.

Tyneside folk singer Pete Scott is to play at Cramlington Folk Club.

The gig takes place at the The Hind in Cramlington on March 10 at 8pm.

For more information, call 01670 715106 or visit www.cramfolk.co.uk.

Teenagers in Cramlington have been pulling in the cash for charity.

The 30 young people from the Cramlington Air Cadets pushed themselves to the limit in a charity event that saw them pulling a truck across 400 metres of track.

The air cadets hope that their efforts, at the premises of Dudley-based plant hire firm, Owen Pugh, will help to raise money to share between the Help for Heroes charity and the squadron's minibus fund.

Shankhouse sit in sixth place in the Northern Alliance due to playing more games, but lost at Newcastle University.

The Students ended their recent lean spell and won 4-2 through Will Deledicq, Oliver Heywood, Edwin Tizard and Ben Burte.

There was also an abundance of goals in Heaton Stannington's third round tie at home to First Division opponents Stocksfield in the Longhorn Hardware League Cup.

A serial burglar who spent decades touring the region and raiding rural homes has begun a nine-year jail term.

Anthony Graham targeted wealthy families in Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, creeping into their isolated properties and making off with treasured possessions.

The 50-year-old even plundered an historic castle of expensive antiques in his 30-year career as a "professional burglar".

After last week's fun poll to find Northumberland's favourite castle, this week we turn our attention to the important matter of finding the Greatest Living Northumbrian.

After much discussion in the Your Place office, we have come up with eight people who we think sum up all that is great about Northumberland.

From the world of sport, you can choose between World Cup winners Bobby and Jack Charlton, and the Ashington Express Steve Harmison. There's also comedian Ross Noble, folk musician Kathryn Tickell, actor Robson Green and darts commentator Sid Waddell. Finally, we've added the Duchess of Northumberland into the mix for her work in developing the Alnwick Garden.

You can vote below for your choice and the results will be revealed next Friday.

Northumberland's new unitary council has received a national award for its planning service.

The authority was given a commendation by the Royal Town Planning Institute for the innovative way it is merging the existing planning services in Northumberland.

Owners of a Cramlington pub branded a troublespot by police are fighting a council order that it should close down for a month to clean up its act.

Northumbria Police says The Travellers in Cramlington has been plagued by long-standing problems of crime and disorder in and around the premises.

These have included assaults, possession of drugs, serving underage drinkers and already drunk customers, and alcohol-related trouble outside.

A new range of free courses is being put on this month at venues throughout the county.

The short bitesize courses provide an introduction into a variety of subjects, and include Computer Essentials, Working in Renewable Energies, Introduction to Alternative Therapy, Introduction to Retail Skills and Do You Want to Work in Tourism?