A Cramlington school is holding a fun day with dancers, storytellers, face-painting and other craft activities.

It is at Beaconhill Community Centre in Cramlington this Saturday, March 24, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. It is being organised by Cramlington Primary Village School, a free school scheduled to open in September 2012.

The fun day is also part of a month of statutory consultation during which the leaders of the new school are meeting the community to tell them about their plans and give people an opportunity to express their views and suggestions.

There is also a more formal evening public meeting next Monday March 26 at Concordia from 7.30pm. All welcome.

The curtain is ready to rise for the Scouts performing in the Blyth Valley Gang Show, which is taking place between Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th February at The Phoenix Theatre in Blyth.

The family variety show features sixty four talented Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Leaders from Cramlington and the surrouding areas performing a wide range of musical numbers, packed full of song and dance, along with the traditional comedy sketches. This year the show includes a sunny and upbeat 'holiday' section, along with a majestic 'Fire' number. There is also a number based on eighties music and the scouts very own take on the Dr Who theme. The young people have been rehearsing and perfecting the show since October last year and can't wait to hit the stage at the Phoenix.

Cramlington will hold its first ever Christmas Market at the end of the month as well as enjoy the Christmas lights switch-on.

In conjunction with Cramlington Town Council, the traditional Christmas Market weekend on November 26 and 27 will offer shoppers alternative stocking fillers and gift ideas with a range of homemade and handcrafted products by local and international suppliers.

Visitors can enjoy a festive chestnut and mulled wine stall as well as handmade beauty and bath products, ginger wine, sweets by Northumbria Traditional Sweets, cards, stationery, gift wrap, homemade chocolate and fudge, as well as farmhouse cakes, jams and chutneys.

Free pre-school music sessions are running at Sure Start children's centres in Blyth and Cramlington.

The Musical Minis classes are at Blyth West Children's Centre every Thursday at 1.30pm, and Mondays at 1pm on 14 and 28 February, 14 and 28 March and 11 April at Cramlington East Children's Centre.

Contact the Blyth centre on 01670 541150 or the Cramlington centre on 01670 739528 for further details.

Messy Angels has now been running every Sunday at Mayfields Community Centre since 6th June. It is a family activity session run by Rev Lesley Dennis of the Open Episcopal Church. The craft activities are based around a bible story and there is story telling, action songs and singing. So far over 50 different people have attended and there is a regular group of about 20 that come together on a Sunday afternoon between 3pm and 4.30.

Rev Lesley said, 'I am pleased that people have enjoyed coming along to the sessions and we are looking forward to welcoming many more families.The sessions are free but we welcome donations as we are funded completely by donations. That is why Messy Angels is having its Summer Fayre on 29th August at Mayfields Community Centre at 3pm til 5pm to raise much needed funds so that it can keep going and serve the people of Cramlington. Everyone is welcome to come along'.

Recent changes to bus services in Northumberland will be up for discussion at a public meeting next week.

Residents are being invited to provide feedback on the Arriva timetable changes at the meeting on Wednesday, July 21, at 6pm in The Hub at Cramlington Learning Village.

Representatives from Arriva and the county council will be present to listen to people's views on the new timetable, which was introduced in May.

Every Sunday at Mayfield's Community Centre Brownrigg Drive Cramlington, local residents meet at 3pm til 4.30pm to enjoy creative play, storytelling and live music, followed by Sunday afternoon tea together. It is a new venture from The Open Episcopal Church which is proving popular with locals.
Rev Lesley Dennis started the activities session to help people explore some of the stories in the bible and to give people the opportunity of getting together and having fun.
So far there have been four sessions covering Joseph and his dream coat, Creation, Noah and the Ark and Jesus Light of the World.
The sessions are on every week and everyone is welcome.

Cramlington Folk Club is welcoming special guests tonight for the weekly evening of music at the the Hind pub, starting at 8pm.

The visitors are American fiddler and vocalist Christi Andropolous alongside guitarist David Newey. Both have new albums out on locally-based Furrow Records.

For more information about Cramlington Folk Club visit www.cramfolk.co.uk

Parents and children in part of Northumberland have been targeted for vital safety advice as part of a national campaign.

Sure Start centres in Blyth Valley are getting the message across in a series of fun activities, talks and visits as part of Child Safety Week, which started on Monday and runs until Sunday.

Centres in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley have been taking part, with safety-focused treasure hunts, model making and sing-songs.