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

HOUSING PLANS: Hexham was in danger of being hemmed in by new housing, the Courant reported. Plans were lodged for 112 executive houses to the east of the town at Craneshaugh on the Corbridge Road.

POST BOXES: The future of post boxes in rural locations would be safeguarded even if the privatisation of Royal Mail went ahead, it was reported.

CASH CHALLENGE: New figures revealed seven Tynedale schools were among the worst funded per pupil in the country. The middle schools in Ponteland, Hexham, Prudhoe, Corbridge and Ovingham were included on a list of the 50 with the lowest spending budget per pupil.

25 YEARS AGO

SCHOOL TRAVEL: Parents in the Kirkwhelpington and Capheaton areas were stunned to receive letters from Northumberland County Council saying that their children, who go to middle school in Ponteland, would not be allowed to progress as expected to Ponteland High School. Instead, their official school would be Bedlington High School, a 90-minute bus journey away, they were told.

CONMEN TARGETED: Conmen who target unsuspecting householders were themselves the target of Operation Hamelin, a concerted offensive by Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland Police, the Courant reported.

50 YEARS AGO

RABBIT RETURNED: A stray white rabbit found by police at Anick, near Hexham, the week before was returned to its rightful owner, Philip Sewell (14).

BRIDGE WORKS: A £10,000 improvement scheme got under way at the Eals bridge at Slaggyford. The bridge's arch was strengthened and a footpath provided alongside the road.

HOTEL BLAZE: Fire broke out at Corbridge's Radcliffe Hotel, causing extensive damage to its kitchen. Staff had to flee for safety but no-one was hurt in this blaze, said to be due to a gas leak.

75 YEARS AGO

TRAIN CRASH: A westbound goods train crashed into the level crossing gates at Dilston, near Corbridge, tearing one of them from its hinges. No-one was injured, however, and the train was undamaged.

UNDER THE HAMMER: A 20-acre farm at Tow House, Bardon Mill, was sold at auction for £3,025.

RATES DOWN: Hexham householders' rates were reduced by two shillings and tuppence, to 17s 6d on average, for the coming year.

RECRUITMENT DRIVE: Hexham Conservative Club announced plans to recruit 1,000 new members in the district.

100 YEARS AGO

DRY MONTH: Falstone had its driest month since the keeping of rainfall records began there. Just 1.52ins of rainfall were recorded at the village during March 1923, less then half the previous lowest measure.

PRIEST MOURNED: Canon James Stark, of St Mary's RC Church in Hexham, died at the age of 73. His demise brought to an end a 50-year clerical career.

125 YEARS AGO

DELIVERING THE GOODS: A full postal delivery service and new telegraph poles were introduced at Slaley.

CHIMNEY DOWN: A tall brick chimney was blown down in Hencotes, Hexham, wrecking the roof of the house next door. Happily, the house's occupants escaped injury as no-one was upstairs at the time.

FISHY SCHEME: The South Tyne Angling Association opened a new hatchery at Geeswood Burn, Haydon Bridge.

150 YEARS AGO

DOCTOR IN DISPUTE: Miners at Mickley, Prudhoe and West Wylam refused to pay higher registration costs being brought in by their GP, a Dr G. McCoull. At a mass meeting of Mickley Coal Company workers held at West Wylam colliery, hundreds of disgruntled miners resolved to carry on paying sixpence a fortnight, as before, and to take their custom elsewhere if that proved unsatisfactory to the medic.

MINE DEATH: Joseph Blair (42), a worker at William Armstrong's Ridsdale ironstone mines, died after being caught in a heavy fall of stones.