Last week's poll on the Your Place Northumberland sites asked people to vote for their favourite natural beauty spot in the county. We celebrate the winner, the Farne Islands, with a gallery of photos showing some of the islands' inhabitants:

You've picked Northumberland's top castle and its top beauty spot, but now we're asking you for your views on the county's best building.

Our choice of 12 impressive structures ranges from the Royal Border Bridge in the north to Seaton Delaval Hall in the south, from the 12th century Hexham Abbey to modern buildings like Woodhorn and Alnwick Treehouse.

You can also pick from Morpeth Chantry, Howick Hall, Belsay Hall, Wallington, Brinkburn Priory, Cragside or Biddlestone Chapel - or add your own choice if we've missed it.

You can vote by clicking your choice on the Local Poll section at the bottom of this home page. The voting will be open for the next two weeks, with the winner announced on April 10.

Cramlington Town eased their predicament at the bottom of the table thanks to a 2-0 home win against fellow strugglers Ashington Colliers which lifted them off the bottom rung.

The Colliers - now propping up the Premier Division - were sunk by second-half goals by Gary Day and Mark Holt.

Only three points separate eight teams in the bottom half with Newcastle University still in danger after a fourth successive defeat away from home, losing 1-0 at Shankhouse, the goal in the second half by Lee Gustard.

Seven people who have worked for Blyth Valley Council from its creation to its end were among 132 staff honoured with long-service awards.

David Nesbit started work on the first day, April 1, 1974, along with Helen Coulson, Ed Crutchley, Jimmy Henderson, Malcolm Norris, Ken Pooley, and Brian Wright.

In all, 132 staff who worked for the council for 20 years or more, attended a buffet lunch and were presented with a commemorative gift.

A tree planting ceremony will take place next week to celebrate the inauguration of the new Northumberland County Council.

Council leader Jeff Reid and chief executive Steve Stewart will be planting an oak tree in the grounds of County Hall, Morpeth, on Wednesday at 1pm.

They will also be officially raising the new county council flag.

Meanwhile, residents across the county can still give their opinions on how they would like the new-look authority to tackle problems in their community.

The Farne Islands have been voted Northumberland's top beauty spot.

In the latest poll on the Your Place community websites, the Farnes got 27% of the votes, ahead of Lindisfarne (22%) and the Cheviots (17%).

Votes also went to Bolam Lakes, Crag Lough, Allen Banks, Druridge Bay and Kielder Water.

Irresponsible dog owners Blyth Valley are facing a new crackdown as part of a town hall 'zero tolerance' policy on fouling.

Dog lovers in th area are already at risk of prosecution or a £75 fixed penalty fine if they are caught allowing their pets to foul in public places.

Now the borough council is preparing to bring in new dog control orders over the next few months in a bid to further safeguard the public against the health risks and environmental nuisance caused by fouling.

Police in a Northumberland town are advising cyclists to keep their bikes safe to prevent thefts.

With the lighter nights and warmer weather, more people are going out on their bikes.

Police in Cramlington say this tends to lead to an increase in the number of bike thefts reported across the town.

Officers are reminding cyclists in Cramlington to make sure their bikes are always left safe and secure, whether inside a shed or garage or while out on the street.

Worries over child safety have led to new traffic measures being installed outside a Cramlington school.

Heavy congestion outside Northburn Primary worried parents and teachers.

The Cramlington school has now seen a safety scheme installed.

Children at a Cramlington school have been struck down by a mystery bug.

More than 50 pupils from Burnside Primary School have been affected by flu-like symptoms.

The illness broke out at the school, in Durham Road, at the start of last week and has quickly swept through the building, reportedly leaving one class with only a dozen pupils.