Beleaguered council bosses in Northumberland have been left anxiously waiting for a key Government decision on whether they will have to find a further £11m 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 £30m 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 £50m 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.

A substantial new investment by three venture capitalists will help propel joint sales at two of the region's low-carbon vehicle companies from £3.5m to almost £20m in the next three years.

Ryan Maughan helped establish vehicle control system ComeSys in 2003, before later establishing Avid electric vehicles, and the new capital injection will see the two Cramlington-based businesses now operate through umbrella company MSI Holdings.

Northern Alliance Premier Division outfit Cramlington Town were caught out in the first round of the Northern Alliance Charity Cup.

Despite their home advantage the Town were hammered 7-0 by Cullercoats with goals from Ben Gardner (2), Robert Watson (2), Craig Deighton (2) and Stewart Wright.

A new £18.4m package of budget cuts is being proposed by council leaders in Northumberland, as they await a crucial Government decision which could potentially leave them having to save a further £10m.

The Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall has drawn up the revised savings for 2010/11 after carrying out public consultations on initial £16m proposals published in November.

They will be discussed by the executive next week - and are based on the assumption the Government will allow the council to capitalise its £10m redundancy costs this year, cushioning the impact on the revenue budget.

A row has erupted in Northumberland over the action being taken to tackle the plague of potholes which is facing drivers following the recent big freeze.

Political opponents on the county council have clashed over a demand for a better system of repairs and maintenance - amid claims that 'small craters' have appeared on some roads which are both dangerous and potentially damaging.

Conservative councillors are calling on the Liberal Democrat administration to urgently bring in an improved system for looking after roads, pavements and bridges - and have condemned what they say is the current 'muddle through' approach.

A walk down memory lane will take place at Cramlington Library.

Mining Memories in South East Northumberland will be hosted by local historian Barry Mead from 2pm on Thursday. Entry is free.

A Labour MP is calling for more action to tackle the minority whose anti-social behaviour makes lives a misery for others in Northumberland.

Blyth Valley's Ronnie Campbell is seeking information from Government ministers on the measures available to local councils, the police and law-abiding citizens to address the problems of trouble, nuisance and disorder.

He said: "Despite all the legislation which the Government has put through, and the way official police figures show a big drop in the numbers of actual crimes being committed, I still have a large number of people who tell me that law and order is the biggest problem we all face.

Budget cuts of up to £30m required in Northumberland will be discussed at a meeting of the county council's south east area committee tomorrow night.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, which starts at 6pm in the Spartan Centre, Croftway Primary School, William Street, Blyth.

The committee covers business for the Blyth, Ashington, Bedlington and Cramlington areas, and county council executive member for corporate resources, Andrew Tebbutt, will be there tomorrow to give feedback from recent budget consultation meetings, and outline the next steps in the process.