10 YEARS AGO

JUBILEE EXTRAVAGANZA: From street parties and tea dances, to community fun days and picnics, thousands of people across Tynedale threw themselves into the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in right Royal style.

HOSPITAL GOES AHEAD: Plans to improve health and social care in Haltwhistle were given the go-ahead. As part of a £200m package of investment by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, a planning application for the integrated health and social care scheme was approved by Northumberland County Council's planning and environment committee.

25 YEARS AGO

DIRTY DOG BAN: Tynedale became one of the first local authority areas in the country to be covered by blanket ant-dog fouling legislation. With the exception of just a few parish areas, dog owners were now required to use "poop scoops" to clean up after their pets on the majority of public and privately-owned land.

PARTNERSHIP SPLITS UP: A medical partnership in Tynedale was to split up because of irreconcilable differences over operational issues, it was reported. The Haydon and Allen Valleys Medical Group Partnership was to dissolve in September that year.

35 YEARS AGO

TORY HOLD: Hexham stayed Tory at 1987's General Election, Alan Amos retaining the parliamentary seat vacated by Geoffrey Rippon with an 8.406 majority. Liberal/Alliance candidate Euan Robson came runner-up with 14,304 vote, and Labour's Mike Wood trailed in in third place with 8,103.

FACTORY SALE: Haltwhistle's Crown Paints factory was sold by Reed International to Derby-based electrical group Williams Holdings for £288 million.

HOSPITAL CUTBACKS CONTROVERSY: Tynedale's hospitals were facing a collective budget cut of £250,000 because Northumerland Health Authority needed to divert funds to pay for a new hospital in Ashington, it was reported.

50 YEAR AGO

ESTATE PLANS: It was reported that Hexham Urban Council had pledged to support plans for a new housing estate to the east of the existing Kitty Frisk estate. This development would cover some 14 acres of land and would be twice as big as the Kitty Frisk estate.

FETE RAISES FUNDS: A fete at Matfen Hall, then a Cheshire home for the disabled and sick, raised £4,000. This money was to be put towards the cost of providing extra accommodation there for staff and residents.

FILM PROVES POPULAR: Straw Dogs, a controversial and very violent film starring Dustin Hoffman, attracted almost capacity crowds during a week-long run at Hexham's Forum Cinema despite calls having been made for it not to be given a screening in Tynedale.

75 YEARS AGO

BOUNDARY BOTHER: much controversy was caused by proposals put forward by the Boundary Commission for expanding the Hexham parliamentary constituency area. The commission proposed extending the Hexham constituency eastwards to take in Newburn, Heddon-on-the-Wall and nearby Houghton - a move that would have added 15,000 to its electorate, taking it to 54,274.

BONES DISTURBED: Ancient skeletons were unearthed by mechanical diggers carrying out excavation work at Howford, near Acomb.

ALUMINIUM ACCOMMODATION: The National Coal Board announced plans to provide 50 aluminium houses for miners at Bardon Mill. A further 150 such prefabs were forecast to be forthcoming within the following year or two.

100 YEARS AGO

ORGAN APPEAL BOOST: A bazaar at Slaley attracted a turn-out of almost 400 and raised £153 for the village Methodist chapel's new organ fund.

FOLLOWING SUIT: Another Methodist-organised bazaar, in this case held at Ridsdale's chapel, raised £88 for its repair fund.

VETERAN VILLAGER MOURNED: Wark auction mart founder and colliery owner William Charlton died at the age of 82.

125 YEARS AGO

RED CARDS: Playing football or cricket at the top of the Sele in Hexham was banned by the then urban district council.

MURDER AT GREENHAUGH: Annie Mabel Spencer (26) was murdered and left "shockingly mutilated" at her Greenhaugh Hall home, near Bellingham. Her husband, landowner John Cuthbert Spencer, was charged with this crime and remanded in custody.

COLLIERY CALAMITY: A boy called Cairns sustained leg injuries after becoming sandwiched between two tubs of coal at Low Prudhoe colliery.

WARDEN FUND-RAISER: A bazaar and exhibition at Warden's Hardhaugh School raised £75 for the village's new Methodist chapel fund.

150 YEARS AGO

ALFRESCO ENTERTAINMENT: A brass band from Haltwhistle and fife and drum bands from Coanwood provided musical entertainment at 1872's annual Coanwood and Featherstone Marquee Company picnic, held at Featherstone Castle.