Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell (pictured) branded the summer event 'a weekend out for toffs'.

He strongly criticised Northumberland County Council - which is in the midst of making budget cuts totalling £40m over two years - for earmarking £80,000 to stage the high-profile equestrian event.

The bridge will carry walkers and cyclists across the river under plans to create a major new network of green travel routes, cut car use and promote healthier lifestyles.

It will be built near Humford Mill as part of a £2.3m scheme to improve walking and cycling links between the towns of Bedlington and Cramlington. The new bridge is a key element of a revised package of sustainable travel initiatives, building on £1.35m of Big Lottery funding which was allocated to Northumberland in 2007.

Diane Douglas, of Mayfield Avenue in Cramlington, smashed into the back of a car on the A19 on August 9 last year while on the way back home from a party in a pub.

Despite her own car being heavily damaged in the incident, the 52-year-old then drove off with smoke coming out of the bonnet.

The 'Talking about Cramlington' event will take place next Saturday, 13th February from 10am- 4pm.

People can post their views on display boards post-it' notes, covering topics such as learning, environment, health, transport, community issues and jobs.

The community forum are also looking for forum volunteers to help run the event in two-hour slots. Contact CVA Blyth Valley at info@cvabv.org.uk or 01670 353623 to let them know when you would be able to attend.

A progress report on the review reveals hundreds of people have made their views known on whether parking fees should be imposed across the whole county - rather than just in selected towns.

More than 560 people have signed three separate petitions calling for an equal policy across the board, with charges being made in all principal towns.

Christine Stoker is fighting to find the crooks who ransacked her home and robbed her of £7,000.

Christine and her husband Kevin are taking the law into their own hands to trace the thugs that broke into their home in Thornley Avenue, Cramlington, and stole her children's Christmas presents and treasured jewellery.

Leaping to catch the piece of wood thrown by her owner Gordon Smith from Bedlington, the pet tripped and all 13 inches were plunged deep into her neck.

Distraught Mr Smith, 73, came running to Flick's aid, but was at first mystified when the stick was nowhere to be seen.

Her nose was bleeding and she was crying and shaking, but the stick had sunk so deeply into her flesh that Mr Smith wasn't aware of just how serious her injury had become.

The Banks Group wants to extract an additional two million tonnes of coal from the 750-acre Shotton mine west of Cramlington - which was given the green light by the Government despite strong local opposition.

The latest plans, which would extend the life of the site by two years, will go on display at three public exhibitions.

In an audacious feat held at Gateshead Stadium, Stephen plans to "throw a mile", meaning he will have to throw the club around once every minute to cover the distance.

The event will raise money for Comic Relief's Sport Relief charity, for whom Stephen recently became an ambassador.

Mining and development company the Banks Group is seeking permission to run dozens of extra lorries a day out of the Shotton site near Cramlington.

It also wants to extend the site's stocking area, because coal heaps are getting higher than screening mounds.

The money from the Department for Transport has been proposed for upgrades at Belford, Cramlington, Alnmouth and Morpeth railway stations.

The scheme would provide Cramlington and Alnmouth Railway Stations with additional car parking spaces and improved pedestrian and cycling provision.

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.

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.

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.

The raids all happened in Cramlington between 6am on Tuesday and 7.30am yesterday.

Cramlington neighbourhood sergeant Mick Aspey urged anyone with information about the thefts to contact police on 03456 043043 ext 69191, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.