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.

Police in Northumberland are advising householders to be aware of bogus callers following a report of two men travelling around the Hexham area offering apparently unnecessary household repairs.

The men are believed to be using a white Renault Traffic van.

One of the men is described as being about 30 years old with an Irish accent, 5ft 9ins, of slim build, with short, fair hair, a beard and moustache.

BBC news frontman George Alagiah is to launch a campaign to make Hadrian's Wall Country a world-first Fairtrade zone.

Hadrian's Wall Country covers an area 10 miles on either side of the world heritage site from Tyneside to Ravenglass in Cumbria.

The world heritage site campaign, which is being led by the Hadrian's Wall Fairtrade Group, hopes to establish the corridor as the first cross-county Fairtrade zone in the world.

Small local producers are being urged to show off their goods at an event designed to introduce them to buyers.

Hadrian's Wall Heritage has organised the Locally Produced Trade Fair, which will be staged in Hexham next month.

It wants businesses producing everything from food and drink to textiles, greetings card and jewellery, to attend the event where they will be able to show off their goods to buyers from around the region and hopefully secure orders for the coming tourist season.

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

It was all square at 6-6 after extra time and Stocksfield finally emerged as 7-6 victors in a penalty shoot out.

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

Spend savvy fashion fans swapped until they dropped at a credit crunch-busting upmarket clothes exchange.

Armed with everything from unwanted mother-of-the-bride outfits to designer dresses and hats, women flocked to the Clothes Swap Shop at Matfen Hall in hope of finding a brand new outfit without spending a penny.

L-R: Val Nevin, Marion Schooler, Leigh Chelton and Claire Blake.

This credit-crunch busting approach to shopping was brought to the region by colour and style consultant, Jenny Bersin, of Jenny B Style & Image Consultancy in Stocksfield.

Tynedale made it hard for themselves, but played through the wind with confidence to see off Cinderford on Saturday.

The Corbridge men recorded their 36th straight Tynedale Park league win, grabbing a bonus point, too, in this National Two encounter, thanks to scores from Charlie Ingle, Greg Irvin, Rob Miller and Tim Visser.

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".

Tim Visser is back with Tynedale tomorrow as the Corbridge men look to prolong the National Leagues' premier home record.

Tynedale can do themselves and rivals Blaydon a favour by seeing off Cinderford (kick-off 2.30pm), who sit one place below the Crow Trees men in 10th spot in National Two.

The final phase of a £150,000 children's play area is beginning with the creation of a peaceful community garden.

Branch End Play Area in Stocksfield, pictured, will soon have an area full of flowers and seats for everyone to enjoy.

Preparation of the ground and planting will begin in the spring, with new tarmac paths being laid too.