A TRIP down memory lane, we take a look back at the stories to have hit the headlines 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125-years ago. Do you remember any of the events?

10 YEARS AGO

APPEAL TARGET REACHED: The development of a major tourist attraction at Hexham Abbey received a double shot in the arm. Not only did the year-long appeal to raise £400,000 towards the £3m visitor centre project reach its target, but planning consent was also formally granted to absorb the disused Tynedale Magistrates' Court building into the ambitious scheme.

CHARGES DROPPED: Plans to introduce parking charges for all users of Hexham's Tyne Green were dropped.

25 YEARS AGO

TOUGH ON UNDER-AGE SMOKERS: Tynedale newsagents were to get tough on children under 16 who smoke, it was reported. They were planning to unite in a new initiative to stop under-age children buying tobacco. The initiative - called "No Excuses" - was the first regional campaign of its kind.

YOUTH TOWN COUNCIL: Young people in Prudhoe as well as adults were to get the chance to take part in the democratic process. Ahead of the town going to the polls for the General and county council elections, youngsters in Prudhoe would be meeting up to set up the first Prudhoe Youth Town Council.

35 YEARS AGO

U-TURN ON TOURISM LEVY: Tynedale Council dropped its controversial plans to slap a 10 per cent surcharge on tourists booking accommodation in the district through Hexham's tourist information centre.

EXPENSES HIKE: Northumberland county councillors voted in favour of giving themselves pay rises of up to 27.5 per cent. This was their first rise for five years, though.

PARKING SCHEME EXTENDED: Hexham's pay-and-display parking scheme, a cause of some controversy at the time, was extended, and extra five parking spaces being created off St Mary's Wynd.

50 YEARS AGO

THIRD CHANNEL REACHES TYNEDALE: A new television transmitter came into operation at Newton, near Riding Mill, to relay ITV programmes to Tyne Valley telly watches who hitherto had has to make do with BBC 1 and 2.

PROJECTS PRAISED: Blanchland and a restored farm at Acomb Fell, near Hexham, came in for commendations at that year's national Civic Trust awards.

OFFICIAL OPENING: Prudhoe's Pybelle kitchen unit factory opened for business. Then county council chairman Lord Ridley did the official opening hours.

75 YEARS AGO

MAULING FOR MINISTRY: The Ministry of Health came under fire from Hexham Rural Council for slashing its housing allocation for the coming year from 96 to 32.

RUGBY TRIUMPH: Tynedale's second rugby side beat Seaside Rovers 14-0 at Gosforth to win the Northumberland Senior Challenge Shield, the first rugby trophy to be won by a Hexham side for 23 years.

MAIL SHAKE-UP: Hexham's postal services were cut due to a manpower shortage.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE: Hundreds of acres of land along the Tyne Valley were flooded. The areas reported to be hardest hit included Corbridge, Bardon Mill and Allendale.

100 YEARS AGO

MEMORIAL DEDICATED: A lychgate war memorial was opened at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Slaley.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS: Haydon Bridge's Wesleyan Sunday school held various celebrations to mark its 30th anniversary.

HEALTH INITIATIVE: Blanchland residents, concerned about the local GP service's shortcomings, agreed at a public meeting to seek to have their village declared a National Health Insurance Act prescribed area. This status, suggested by the then Hexham MP Douglas Clifton Brown and believed to be unique in England, would give any doctor taking over the Blanchland patch a monopoly, the meeting heard.

125 YEARS AGO

FARMER MOURNED: Falstone farmer Fergus Robson died at the age of 84. "His tall, venerable figure attracted attention wherever he went. He was a local Presbyterian and was held in much esteem," eulogised the Hexham Courant of the day.

METHODIST MOVES: Work got under way on an £850 new Wesleyan chapel and the schoolroom at Horsley, the previous chapel site having been taken over by the village's day school. Work was also begun on a new £600 Methodist chapel at Henshaw, the previous chapel there being no longer big enough.

150 YEARS AGO

SOCIETY DIVIDEND: Hexham and Tynedale Benefit Building Society paid out a £2 annual bonus to its shareholders.

WALKER COMPENSATED: Belsay farmer John Browell was ordered by Newcastle County Court to pay £25 damages to a woman, Jane Kane (18), who was attacked by a heifer of his while using a public footpath at this East Bitchfield farm.