A TYNEDALE man has been praised for organising events to help improve a village's community spirit.

Paul 'Robbo' Robinson organised the popular bonfire night display in Acomb this year, and has also hosted outdoor movie events for children in the village.

Paul, who is originally from Hexham but has lived in Acomb for around 10 years, said he decided to organise the bonfire night event after the Hexham display was cancelled for a second year in a row.

He said: "I thought I may as well try to get something going for the community spirit.

"I know everyone in the village so I thought I'd just ask around and see what they thought of it and everyone was really up for it."

Paul added: "I applied to the council and they said if I got insurance I could use the big playing field.

"I just got a team of my mates together and we built a big fire and got some fireworks. I got a food truck and an ice cream van and then just put a few leaflets around the village, and I think about 600 people were there.

"I couldn't have done it without my friends' and local volunteers' help."

Dad-of-two Paul said he was shocked at the number of people who attended, and said if he receives permission, he plans to host the Bonfire event every year.

Attendee Michael Armstrong praised Paul and said: "Like everything this young man does he sees it through to the end.

"The [bonfire] night was a brilliant display that would give Hexham bonfire a run for its money.

"This is not the only act of kindness shown by this young man to this village."

Earlier this year, Paul, a commercial exterior cleaner, set up an outdoor film screening.

"At the front of my house there's a big bit of grass and all the kids play there in summer, and I thought I might as well see if they would enjoy watching a film," he said.

Paul has other events he would like to organise up his sleeve, such as a beer festival.

"Over the years I've noticed people whingeing that there's never anything happening and that there's nothing for the kids, so it's just about trying to get everyone together every now and then," he said.