THE community in Corbridge is fighting back against county-wide cuts to tourist information services.

Shelves full of souvenirs and gifts with links to the county look set to be a thing of the past as the retail offer is scaled back as part of a review by the county council’s charitable leisure arm, Active Northumberland.

With just books and maps expected to remain on sale, Corbridge Parish Council has joined forces with the Visit Corbridge traders group and village trust to ensure the centre on Hill Street remains fit for purpose.

“As part of the review, the last thing we want is for visitors to be met with bare shelves when they come into the tourist information centre,” said chairman of Corbridge Parish Council, Coun. Maurice Hodgson.

“We want the service to remain viable for the future so we’re working on creating a series of presentable displays which will be attractive and informative for visitors.

“Whatever the future regime, we want the service here in Corbridge to be presented in the best condition possible.”

Author and local historian David Waugh, who is also chairman of the village trust, is preparing history displays which provide walks and photographs to showcase the history of the village.

A £500 grant towards the work from Active Northumberland will be topped up by parish council funds.

Corbridge library and tourist information centre were combined on to the ground floor of the county council-owned Hill Street building in 2009.

Since then, the library has been run with the help of five volunteers, with staff Anne Spottiswood and Fiona Lockhart currently overseeing both services.