Stories of inspirational women from across Northumberland were heard at St Mary’s Church, Morpeth, to mark International Women’s Day 2020, as part of a Northumberland County Council initiative celebrating gender equality.

Schoolchildren across the Tyne Valley were encouraged to share artwork and creative writing with winning schools Ponteland High School, St Mary’s RC First School, Hexham, the King Edward VI School and Chantry Middle School, Morpeth, invited to showcase their entries as part of the event held on March 6.

The council also debuted its Inspirational Young Women Awards at the event, aimed at young women under the age of 25, who have made an outstanding contribution to residents and/or the county, with model, dancer and activist, Kate Stanforth, from Stocksfield, announcing the winners – Chloe Hutchinson, Caren Hope, Ava Doyle, Rosie Bell and overall winner Rayer Waddell.

Coun. Cath Homer, cabinet member for culture, arts, leisure and tourism, said: “This has been an excellent opportunity for the young people of Northumberland to celebrate remarkable women within our community as part of creative and cultural competitions.”

Meanwhile, Coun. Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “It is fantastic to see work of such a high calibre entered into these competitions, particularly as this is the first time we have run an initiative quite like this in Northumberland.”

Penni Blythe, who judged the art entries, said: “It was truly difficult to select a winner.

“We finally chose on the basis of one telling a story of the past and the present, through a variety of women.

She added: “It is particularly gratifying to mark the occasion at St Mary’s Church, the resting place of Emily Davidson, a suffragette who fought for women’s rights."