Organisers of the Northumberland County Show have helped persuade Australian stunt motorcyclist Matt Coulter to come out of semi-retirement to headline their event.

Coulter - known as the Kangaroo Kid - retired from the UK show circuit in 2005 and had to be talked into returning to Britain.

He will appear at the County Show at Corbridge on May 25 as part of a packed programme of entertainment that will run alongside the traditional agricultural show.

Seven wins on the trot have put Percy Main firmly in the title reckoning in the Northern Alliance Division One- and they have leapfrogged Whitley Bay A into second behind Stocksfield A.

The Villagers could be set to deprive the Bay of a promotion slot.

The Main won 2-1 at Seaton Burn with goals by Joe Betts and Jason Ritchie (penalty) and followed up with another 2-1 success away to Newcastle East End.

Bosses at Northumberland's new super council have been accused of failing to comply with an independent regulator's guidance by providing an 0845 number for people who need to contact the authority.

Bob Watson is unhappy that Northumberland County Council's new number is premium rate

Members of the public who telephone the all-purpose council - which came into being on April 1 following the switch to unitary local government - now have to use a single number, 0845 600 6400, to speak to call handlers.

Tynedale Rugby Club will have the name of local telecom firm BNS on their shirts next season.

BNS chief executive, Garry Moat said: "Our HQ is in Prudhoe and many of our employees live in the area. As a business, it is important for us to actively engage with the local community. Tynedale Rugby Club runs a number of senior, youth and junior teams and therefore is involved in grass roots development of the sport."

People with any concerns or problems following recent changes in home to school transport arrangements in the west of Northumberland are being urged to seek help and advice from the county council.

Parents or schools with worries should contact the transport unit on (01670) 533644 or 533673.

Corbridge put a severe dent in Berwick's excellent start to their top-flight career in the SG Wealth Management Northumberland League as they put their visitors to the sword.

David Newton (three for 18 in 10 overs) led a quintet of wicket takes as Berwick crumbled for just 81.

Andrew Dover (42no) and Richard Byerley (31) steered Corbridge to a seven-wicket win in just 17.5 overs.

On a good weekend for the North East sides, Blaydon secured their National Two future with an 83-33 mauling of Waterloo, Percy Park won promotion to North Two East, seeing off Bridlington 36-3 in the play-offs, and Tynedale accounted for Mounts Bay 32-14 in Cornwall to finish fourth.

Tynedale closed out their season at Mounts Bay with their third straight away win in National Two.

A Jack Harrison hat-trick did the job in the South West, while cruel luck befell Ross Samson, who tore a hamstring after 15 minutes of his last Tynedale match.

People in Northumberland suffering from the effects of the economic recession are being urged to seek help and advice from Northumberland Warm Zone's benefits officer Lisa Oxley.

Lisa, who has helped hundreds of local residents claim the state benefits they are entitled to, can be contacted on (01670) 256624.

One of England's most northerly asparagus growers is preparing for a bumper new season crop.

St George's Day traditionally marks the start of the all too brief British asparagus season.

Last year the cold, wet spring saw harvesting delayed, however, dramatically cutting yields and availability but Caroline Dickinson (pictured), of Brocksbushes Farm Shop near Corbridge, says growers are this year seeing the green shoots of recovery thanks to the recent spring sunshine.

Stocksfield, still seven points clear in the Northern Alliance Division One and favourites for promotion, suffered a midweek shock in losing 2-1 at home to lowly Seaton Burn, who had goals by Jonathan Wood and Stuart Taylor outweighing Ben Pearson's strike for their hosts.

The Tyne Valley pace-setters bounced back quickly and beat their next visitors, bottom-rung outfit Red Row Welfare, 5-2.

The Stocksfield scorers were Wayne Stewart (2), Sandy Tordoff, Ben Pearson and Josh Brooks, with both of the Welfare's replies coming from Paul Pescod.

Whitley Bay A and Cullercoats also have promotion hopes.