THERE'S  a large scar on the tree at the corner on the right side of the road as you come down the Glenwhelt Bank into the village.

It marks the bump taken by the latest car to come to grief on this bank.

Others have landed in the stream on the left.

This one slid down the road upside down and the driver was able to get out – to the astonishment of observers of his flattened vehicle.

We have maintained for a long time that the 30mph sign should be above this bend on the off-chance drivers might take notice of it there. Most of them start to brake on the bridge over the river.

We do notice those of you who drive with care through our village – you are appreciated, but rare.

THERE will be many people in the village for the Valentine’s Day farmers’ market on Sunday – and doubtless the romantically-inclined will also be in the village celebrating at the hotel, the inn or the tea room!

Certainly, the market will be offering some great ingredients for all cooks, and some interesting gifts from our local craftspeople.

THE  information stall at the market this month will be manned by Haltwhistle Town Twinning Association – come and meet them! I know they are planning a good display of their activities.

If your group would like to book a turn at this stall later in the year, contact Donella or Bill.

THE break in tourist activity gets shorter and the Roman Army Museum is already open again – an excellent opportunity for us locals to explore its delights when it’s not too crowded. It’s a real treasure on our doorstep.

LAST  year, NHS England announced Northumberland as one of only eight areas across the country to take a national lead on transforming care for patients as part of the national vision for the future of the NHS.

Benefiting from an £8.3m investment, the NHS is working together with wider health and social care partners to pioneer new models of care shaped around patients’ needs.

A new website outlining the vision for Northumberland has been launched at (www.northumberland.nhs.uk) and a month-long programme of public engagement activity will begin.

Patients and members of the public are being asked to share their experiences and give their views by completing a survey online.

If we don’t tell them, there’s no chance we’ll get what we need, so have a go!

WHILE snowdrops are out throughout the village, and catkins are beginning to loosen their tails, the only daffodils yet blooming here are the delightful, non-allergic, knitted ones in the tea room.

And ever alert to a chance to gain support for the air ambulance, Jan has been selling copies of the instructions to admirers.

She’s raised a substantial amount – and this also means there will be similar early daffs around the country being knitted to remind people of their visit to our village!

For our talented youngsters, there’s a competition, closing date February 29, to get across the message about the dangers of carbon monoxide, the odourless gas that can be filtering into our homes from faulty appliances.

You must be a Key Stage 1 or 2 pupil, and you can enter a poster, poem, story, dance, song or painting.

Winners get £600 for their school and the competition is only for our region. Email: CVOintheframe@northerngas.co.uk for your free competition pack.