10 YEARS AGO

DRAIN CLAIMS: The Duke of Northumberland's £30 million plans to redevelop Prudhoe looked to be going down the drain, after claims the town's existing sewerage network could not cope with the new housing.

PRIME TIME: Ben Shephard, described in the Courant as a "TV heart-throb" battled the blisters as he ran through Hexham as part of a five marathon charity challenge to take on the Coast to Coast crossing to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis trust and the Children's Heart Fund Unit at the Freeman Hospital.

JOBS LOST: Haulage, demolition, and quarrying giants Thompsons of Prudhoe told 67 workers they were to lose their jobs, as part of the worst job cuts in the company's history, which were blamed on heavy Government taxes on tipping.

UFO SPOTTED: A mysterious light in the skies over Newbrough sparked a wave of UFO speculation, with one caller - who declined to give his name for fear of ridicule, claiming he saw a "bright orange light in the sky."

25 YEARS AGO

THIEVES STRIKE: A Hexham builder lost his entire business - literally - when thieves made off with his white Vauxhall Transporter with all his equipment, and his livelihood along with it.

GOING, GONE: Hexham Auction Mart closed its old site and moved to the new £4 million livestock centre at Tyne Green. The first sale was to take place that day, but the new centre was to be officially opened by a former president of the Farmer's Union, Lord Plumb, the following Friday.

GOLF RECORD: Hexham professional Martin Forster produced the round of his life to smash the course record at Slaley Hall Golf Club, with his round of 65 including six birdies and an outstanding eagle.

SPIED ON: Video evidence from Hexham's spy cameras showed a man's vicious attacks on three people outside Dontino's nightclub on Priestpopple, and helped send the assailant to jail.

50 YEARS AGO

GOING ALONE: The Vindolanda Trust decided to continue with its archaeological excavations at the Vindolanda Roman site near Bardon Mill as a private venture, after the Government refused to help with funding.

75 YEARS AGO

PATIENTS' OUTING: Some 300 wounded soldiers being treated at Hexham Emergency Hospital were taken, by special train, on a day trip to Whitley Bay.

PLAYED DOWN: VJ Day celebrations throughout Tynedale were said to be pretty subdued. The Courant reported: "Though a few blithe spirits improved the occasion by dancing in the Market Place, Hexham, the general demeanour was one of quiet thankfulness, rather than any unrestrained display of joy."

NEW KNIGHT: Edward Pius Arthur Riddell, of Anick House in Hexham, was knighted in that year's dissolution honours. Brig-Gen Riddell, a veteran of the Boer War and World War One, was by then a national vice president of the Royal British Legion.

GARDEN FETE: A garden fete held in Newbrough raised £70 for the parish's nursing association.

100 YEARS AGO

RECORD BROKEN: That year's Tyneside Agricultural Society Show at Hexham attracted a record 2,700 entries, as well as 20,000 spectators.

LAST CALL: Hexham's oldest publican, David Carruthers of the Royal Hotel, died aged 85.

125 YEARS AGO

SHOP BUILT: Work got underway on the building of a Co-op store in St Helen's Place, Corbridge.

TOP TURNIPS: Acomb farmer William Heslop, of Broom Park, was reported to have produced one of the best crops of turnips ever seen in the district.

150 YEARS AGO

ORGANIST HONOURED: Members of the Hexham Abbey Choir met at the Subscription Schools in the town to present their talened choirmaster with a testimonial. Mr John Nicholson was treated to a handsome present of silver butter, jelly, and fruit knives.

SAYING FAREWELL: The Rev. J. Fish, minister of Newbrough United Methodist Free Church, preached a farewell sermon to the congregation on his leaving for a new "sphere of labour."

COFFEE SUPPER: A coffee supper was held in the Tanners' Row by the friends of the Revs A. Keen and J. Fish to bid farewell to those ministers who were leaving the circuit, and to present Rev. A. Keen with a slight token of the "high esteem and affectionate regard they entertain for him."

CHURCH BAZAAR. A bazaar was held at Corbridge's School-room, with the opening ceremony performed by MP Hon. H.G Liddell.

MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT: A coroner's inquiry into a railway accident at Carlisle, where five people were killed and more injured, recorded a verdict of manslaughter.