THE New Year started with a bang in Haydon Bridge - but nobody was complaining about losing any sleep.

For a spectacular show of midnight fireworks lit-up the village, to the cheers of onlookers.

In Allendale, the annual New Year's Eve tar bar'l parade was as spectacular as ever, with 40 men carrying flaming barrels through the Market Place.

Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race, which has been running for over 700 years, attracted its largest number entrants on New Year's Day while raising money for St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle and Tynedale Hospice at Home in Hexham.

And in Humshaugh, regulars at the Crown Inn pub turned out in force for a fancy dress competition on New Year's Day.

Landlord, David Harding, described the effort put in to costumes as "outstanding".