Northumberland communities - Blyth

Police act to close down suspected Blyth brothel

2009-11-06T08:54:44Z

Police have swooped to close down a suspected brothel in Northumberland.

Officers from Northumbria Police acting on community intelligence targeted a premises at Stanley Street in Blyth yesterday morning, where it is suspected prostitution, money laundering and immigration offences were being committed.

A 59-year-old man from Stanley Street, Blyth was arrested for managing a brothel used for prostitution and was last night helping police with their enquires.

The arrest comes as part of Operation Clydesdale a multi-agency operation targeting brothels in the North East and crime groups which organise and finance prostitution.

It is a coordinated campaign of activity led by Northumbria Police and the Regional Intelligence Unit with support from UK Border Agency and the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

Blyth Neighbourhood Inspector David Felton said: "Organised prostitution is a national issue and that is why we have carried out this multi-agency operation to target those who seek to profit from exploitation.

"We always respond to concerns raised by our communities and this operation was based on community-led intelligence."

"There are a relatively small number of brothels in the region, however the human suffering and exploitation involved in trafficking women for organised prostitution is still considerable."

Meanwhile, people living on the section of Stanley Street near the targeted property spoke of their shock after learning of police suspicions. Resident Linda Shellard described the suspected activity as terrible, saying: "We have been here about seven years and apart from a little bit of noise in the nightclub (Nikhs) it is very quiet."

An 81 year old woman, who asked not to be named, added: "I am disgusted to think it was going on just down the street."

Bede Academy welcomes African choir with message of hope

2009-11-05T15:22:40Z

A world-renowned children's choir brought the spirit of Africa to the North East with its musical message of hope.

The internationally acclaimed African Children's Choir gave an inspirational performance of traditional drumming, music and dance for hundreds of students at Bede Academy, Blyth.

The South African choir, which was founded in 1984 by human rights activist Ray Barnett, has been raising awareness of the plight of the continent's most vulnerable children for the past 25 years.

Through sponsorship, the choir works with children and schools to improve education for the poorest of Africa's children and has to date helped more than 7,000 young people across the continent.

Tour leader Angie Langenberg said: "Many people's ideas of African children come from the images they see on a television screen.

"Our choir helps to show the world that even the country's most vulnerable children have beauty, dignity and unlimited ability.

"All the children love to sing and meet new people. Wherever we go, everyone just loves to hear them - they really are amazing.

"When they return home they will all be enrolled in the charity's Music For Life programme which will help with their education so they can go on to university and fulfil their ambitions."

Many of the 23 children, aged between eight and 10, have lost one or both parents and are victims of extreme poverty, but all have high aspirations for the future from becoming doctors to being the president of South Africa.

Hope Thabethe, nine, who has been singing with the choir for four months said: "When I am older I would like to be an ophthalmologist.

"This is the first time I have been to England and I like it; it's different. I like singing to lots of people - singing makes me happy."

The choir will be performing all over the UK before returning to South Africa in December.

Bede Academy's Primary Years Principal Liz Clubbs added: "It was such a privilege to have the African Children's Choir perform in our new academy. Music is very high on Bede Academy's agenda and the choir has given us a truly wonderful musical and cultural experience."

Blyth Valley MP committed to fighting on

2009-11-05T15:21:36Z

Ronnie Campbell, Labour MP for Blyth Valley, has spoken out amid a divided reaction from North East MPs over proposed changes to the expenses system.

Politicians from across the region spoke out as party leaders Gordon Brown and David Cameron said the Sir Christopher Kelly report should be fully accepted.

Ronnie said: "As far as we are concerned, we cannot do anything else but go along with it.

He considered stepping down amid the expenses scandal despite being one of the first MPs to voluntarily return money when he repaid £6,000 for furnishings.

"There were a few thoughts going over my mind but I am now committed. I am committed to fighting the next election, hook or crook," said the MP, who will step down at the election after next.

Read full story with reactions from MPs around the region »

Northumberland day care centres axed

2009-11-05T10:34:48Z

Controversial plans to axe seven cherished day centres in Northumberland were rubber-stamped last night.

Northumberland County Council voted to close the facilities used as meeting places by elderly and disabled people at Amble, Blyth, Bedlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Ponteland and Prudhoe.

In a named poll at its meeting at Morpeth's County Hall, the council voted 46 to 11 in favour of proposals to close its centres, which are used by around 300 people every week.

The authority says the facilities are under-used and it is closing them to cut costs and is instead to offer users and the many others who need assistance personalised budgets to spend on their preferred method of care.

It says anyone who wants to continue receiving traditional, building-based day care will be able to do so via other providers - voluntary and independent agencies.

The council has came up with a range of alternative provision in each of the affected areas. Hundreds of people had signed petitions calling for the seven centres to be saved, claiming they offer elderly users a vital chance to meet friends and give relatives an important break from looking after them.

The meeting was attended by a band of centre users, carers and union leaders who vented their anger at councillors after the vote was taken. Thomas Mosey, 80, of Newcastle Road, Newsham, Blyth, has used the town's Lyndon House site for around five years, having previously been moved out of its Tynedale House by the council.

He branded the decision "disgusting", "absolute shameless" and "shocking". The council had been due to take a decision on the centres at its meeting in September, but opted to defer after Conservative and Labour opposition councillors joined forces in a bid to drum up interest from potential providers in running the sites in Amble, Bedlington and Blyth.

But last night, the Labour group hit out at the Tories for now backing the closures and for tabling an amendment with the Lib Dems which it claimed showed little change to the proposals put forward in September.

Labour members asked why the council could not offer a mix of centres and alternative care. They also accused the Lib Dems of using the personalised budgets as "a smokescreen" which allows them to axe day centres.

Coun Deirdre Campbell said: "The public are not silly. Personalised budgets weren't an excuse to close the homes.

"I just can not believe you are back in here today and you are still intent on taking away a brilliant service that is used by the elderly.

"I would say to people - do not get old the Lib Dems will crucify you.

"I think you have declared war on the elderly. The one thing you have not got to do in Northumberland is get old."

The Lib Dems had called on the council to make the decision to end uncertainty for centre users.

Coun Simon Reed said: "We have to modernise and transform our service. We have to give people more choice."

His party also stated that no centres will be closed until alternate provision has been arranged for users.

Youngsters tidy up Blyth war memorial

2009-11-03T14:53:18Z

Teenagers have paid their respects to fallen soldiers by cleaning war memorials.

Teams of youngsters took to the streets yesterday to tidy up monuments in Blyth and South Shields ahead of Remembrance Day.

They were led by staff from B-Skill, a training provider for 16 to 19-year-olds, who are trying to encourage young people to take ownership of their community.

Sheena Smith of B-Skill said: "If they're involved in creating or maintaining areas where they live then hopefully they'll have more care and respect for the area they live, work and learn.

"In the run-up to this, the learners have been involved in their own planning such as researching the First and Second World wars and the local sacrifice made that allows them the freedom they have today.

"I was particularly pleased the learners wanted to do something like this in Blyth, not only to improve the often very negative image local young people have but to give them the chance to learn more about the wars fought for them and to pay their respects.

"We also placed some wreaths on the monuments we worked on," she said.

Meeting of Blyth Community Forum

2009-11-03T11:17:51Z

The next series of meetings for the newly formed community forums for Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley are as follows:

Blyth Community Forum- Thursday 26 November 2009, 6:30 pm at the Buffalo Community Centre, Regent Street, Blyth

Seaton Valley Community Forum- Thursday 19 November 2009 at 7:00 pm at New Hartley Memorial Community Centre, St Michael's Avenue, New Hartley.

Cramlington Community Forum- Thursday 14 January 2010 at 6:30 pm at St Nicholas Church, East Farm, Cramlington

Community Forums are the new mechanism being introduced by the Northumberland Strategic Partnership and supported by Northumberland County Council for local communities to engage with organisations operating in Northumberland and for those bodies to consult with local communities in Northumberland.

Anyone wishing to receive direct mailing for any of the above meetings, including minutes of the previous meetings, agenda etc should contact CVA Blyth Valley on 01670 353623 / info@cvabv.org.uk, who are the interim hosts, and you will be included onto our database.

CVA Blyth Valley would also like to hear from anyone in all 3 areas who may have a venue / meeting room which holds approx 20--25 people where we could hold these meetings.

Spartans' boss hits out after poor performance

2009-11-02T16:38:01Z

Mick Tait accused his side of a lack of effort after the Spartans conceded four goals for the second time in what has turned out to be a nightmare week.

Blyth, beaten 4-0 at AFC Telford in the FA Cup on Tuesday, turned in a Halloween horror show as they slumped to a 4-1 home defeat against Ilkeston Town.

It was certainly not a treat for the Blyth fans who saw their side three down in half-an-hour and then forced to play the second half with 10 men.

Defender Kenny Boyle was red carded on 42 minutes for a crunching tackle in midfield on David Graham that saw the Robins striker stretchered off.

Ilkeston could have scored more than one goal after the break, but an outplayed and numerically disadvantaged Blyth dug deep to claim a late consolation goal from Adie Webster.

"It was a lacklustre performance and the most disappointing aspect was the lack of effort by the players in the first half," said Tait. "We allowed them to cross the ball at will and defensively we were found wanting.

"The blame does not entirely lie with the defenders as there was an alarming lack of cover from the players playing in front of them.

"We played much better with only 10 men and I can take the positives out of the second half display. There is no question there is a lot of ability in the squad but a lack of effort is unacceptable."

Tait had no complaints about Boyle's dismissal, which is likely to bring a three-match suspension.

"I have no complaints about the sending off. I don't think Kenny meant to hurt the lad but it was a nasty tackle.

"It certainly seemed like an FA Cup hangover as we made a bad start and at 3-0 down after half an hour the game was virtually over."

Twenty-year-old striker Amari Morgan-Smith helped himself to a hat-trick, with Graham also on target before Webster signed off with a late header ahead of the midfielder's impending move to Australia.

Blyth lifeboat launched in rescue bid

2009-11-02T16:36:07Z

A rescue operation was launched after a man was reported lost at sea.

The RNLI Blyth lifeboat Jennie B was launched after a call saying someone was in the water near the Mermaid car park, South Beach, Blyth.

During the search, which took place around 5.30pm on Friday, the police helicopter was also deployed along with ambulance staff. However, after about half an hour the man was found safe and well.

A RNLI spokesman said: "At 5.50 it was reported that the person was safe and ashore."

Blyth pet Astrophe in final of witch cat contest

2009-11-01T18:03:40Z

HE'S a catastrophe by name and nature . . . and now he's been crowned one of the nation's scariest cats.

Astrophe the Cat can climb stairs upside down, pounce on terrified victims at any moment, and now he's clawed his way into the final of a contest to find the nation's perfect witch's cat.

The fierce feline with a wild streak was found on farmland after he was abandoned as a kitten, but he was soon taken in by proud owner Jill Craik, 25, of Blyth.

He's now beaten more than 1,100 black cats to make it into the final 13 of the contest, launched by the animal insurance company, Petplan.

Jill said: "He's a cheeky monkey and I think he's great, but he's definitely scary, especially when he hisses at you and shows you his teeth.

"Half the time I don't know whether it's okay to stroke him or to run from him. I live in an open plan house and he can run up the stairs the wrong way round, underneath where I walk, and he's forever leaping out from hiding places onto me.

"He's most definitely a worthy finalist."

Developed in conjunction with the infamous Witch of Wookey Hole, the competition criteria include having flawless black fur in the correct shade to blend into the night sky and unsurpassed balancing ability for broomstick travelling, plus a faultlessly arched back and hiss to scare off unwanted visitors.

Each finalist has had a pretend Top Trump card created, to show off their frightening features.

Three-year-old Astrophe's card describes him as having slime-green eyes, cauldron black fur and a back as arched as a winged tip.

And he's also said to have claimed countless lives of little creatures. Jill, a purchasing manager, added: "He's scratched me a few times too . . .he just likes a little flesh at times."

The owners of the winning cat will also receive £250 donation to their animal charity of choice, a £100 animal gift hamper, a framed picture of their cat in its new role as a witch's cat, plus transport and entry to Wookey Hole in Somerset to view their cat's portrait.

Blyth businesses forced to make way for superstore

2009-10-31T14:19:25Z

Businesses are facing the prospect of having to move or close down to make way for a new superstore in the heart of Northumberland's biggest town.

Between 10 and 15 existing businesses in Blyth town centre are in the way of the multi-million pound development to create a bigger supermarket for retail giant Morrisons.

Hugh Hirst, owner of Phoenix Taxis, and Allen Lewins, who owns nearby Riverside Auto Centre

Some have already agreed to sell up and relocate or close down after offers were made to them using £3.2m in funding from One North East to deliver the regeneration scheme.

But others say they are in limbo and uncertain about their future after rejecting initial offers to buy them out.

On Monday the county council's executive will be recommended to agree a compulsory purchase order (CPO) if they need to acquire the land and buildings around the existing Morrisons store.

The development, which will result in a modern and more attractive supermarket with an extra 800sqm of floorspace, is seen as a key component of wider efforts to regenerate the town centre, attract more shoppers and boost the economy.

One of the businesses affected is Phoenix Taxis, in Station Street, which employs about 120 staff. The company faces having to relocate for the third time to make way for new developments in Blyth.

Owner Hugh Hurst said: "We have been made one derisory offer 12 months ago and they have done nothing at all to try to relocate us. I will have to deal with the issue of compulsory purchase if it arises but there is no way I am accepting the offer made so far.

"This was a derelict site when we bought it seven years ago and we spent £250,000 on it. I believe a better supermarket would be a great thing for Blyth but Morrisons would not expect local businesses to be wiped out."

Allen Lewins, owner of the Riverside Auto Centre in Station Street, said: "The offer I have been made does not adequately value my property. I have just established myself here with a new building and equipment, have spent a lot of money on it and want to stay in the town centre."

Sheelagh Evans, 54, who has run The Sewing Shop in Regent Street for eight years, said: "We got letters in February 2008 and each individual business had meetings with Blyth Valley Council about this, but for the last 20 months we have heard absolutely nothing. It has been horrible and like being on death row."

A report to the council executive says the compulsory purchase powers will only be used if the three partners in the scheme are unable to acquire all of the land by negotiation.

A county council spokesman said: "We're in discussions with a number of tenants and owners who are affected by the proposals. We are working closely with them, and our agents, to come up with alternative solutions."

Charity matches mark Bede Academy opening

2009-10-29T09:00:26Z

Teams that worked together to build a Northumberland school battled each other on the football pitch to celebrate its opening.

Organised by consulting engineers Cundall, all the companies involved in the construction of the newly-opened Bede Academy in Blyth formed teams and took each other on in a series of charity matches for the Cundall Charity Cup.

The competition took place at the academy's new sports fields, and involved teams from every aspect of the academy's construction.

Architects Howarth Litchfield Partnership, building contractors SURGO, electrical contractors Veale-Nixon, mechanical services contractors H Malones & Sons and organisers Cundall all mustered a charity football team for the competition, and staff from the academy also decided to join in for a chance to win.

Following some exciting football - including a dramatic penalty shoot out in the semi-final - SURGO Construction went on to win the Cundall Charity Cup.

Partner at Cundall Gordon Reid said: "It was a great opportunity for everyone involved in this project to see the finished product and raise some money for charity too."

Cundall also took up the Dickinson Dees Enterprise Charity Challenge to help raise vital funds for St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle, which involved them trying to convert £100 into as much money as possible over a period of 13 weeks.

Through this event and a number of other fundraising ideas they have raised more than £1000 so far.

Bede Academy, which is sponsored by the Emmanuel Schools Foundation, opened its doors last month with two state-of-the-art buildings bringing together nursery, primary and secondary education.

The construction firms involved have worked extensively together already over the past six years to deliver a wide range of education facilities in the North of England.

They were recently recognised for their excellent team work when they won the Integration and Collaborative Working Award category at the 2009 Constructing Excellence North East Awards.

Pictured: Gordon Reid from Cundall presents the cup to John Bewick from SURGO

Telford end Blyth Spartans' hopes of heroics

2009-10-28T14:14:19Z

AFC Telford 4, Blyth Spartans 0

Blyth Spartans won national acclaim last season for their FA Cup heroics but they crashed out last night when AFC Telford United romped to a 4-0 victory. Spartans held their own during the first half and were unlucky to go in a goal behind, but then it was all downhill.

Blyth had a let-off in the opening minutes when a centre by Sean Newton was headed straight at goalkeeper Mark Bell by captain Gavin Cowan who should have done much better.

Spartans quickly hit back and a Gareth Williams free kick was powerfully headed goalwards by John Alexander but Ryan Young made a splendid save.

At the other end Phil Trainer attempted a clever back heel only to see the ball end up in the side netting and there was a further disappointment for Telford in the 13th minute when Chris Nurse suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Liam Blakeman.

For a time the visitors pressed the home side back in their own half but in a breakaway Danny Carey-Bertram fired straight at Bell from a good position.

John Brackstone tested keeper Young from long-range and when Josh Gillies beat two defenders, Young was lucky to gather the ball at the second attempt.

Telford scored midway through the opening half. Tom Field picked out sub Blakeman on the edge of the penalty area and his drive went past two defenders and struck Bell for a lucky own goal.

Ian Graham was thwarted by Young who then saw a tremendous 35-yard free kick by Williams, flash over the crossbar. On half-time, Brackstone again set up Graham but he pulled his shot wide of the target.

Blyth were quickly out of the blocks in the second half but Young was again dominant as he turned a Williams free kick around the post.

Gillies and Steve Turnbull combined and the latter produced a clinical finish which was cleared off the line by Jon Adams.

Spartans' luck was not in and it was at the other end the goals arrived. In the 62nd minute a quickly-taken free-kick by Blakeman resulted in Phil Trainer slotting the ball past before Andrew Brown hammered home a volley into the net to complete a miserable night for Spartans.

AFC TELFORD: Young, Adams, Newton, Cowan, Killock, Hurren, Nurse, Field, Carey-Bertram, Brown, Trainer. Subs (not used): Thompson, Blakeman, Whitehead, Edwards, Torpey.

Goals: Blakeman 24, Trainer 62, Brown 85, 88.

BLYTH SPARTANS: Bell, Harrison, Brackstone, Tait, Williams, Craddock, McCabe, Turnbull, Alexander, Graham, Gillies. Subs (not used): Todd, Doninger, Boyle, Webster, Norton.

Attendance: 1,398

Referee: S Ledger (England).

Goals dry up in Cup as Blyth Spartans are held

2009-10-26T09:42:34Z

Blyth Spartans 0, AFC Telford 0

Seven goals in the last round but one, and six last week, Blyth Spartans went to the other extreme against AFC Telford. Now they go to Shropshire.

The Croft Park club were held to a goalless draw by their Blue Square North rivals in Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round. They replay at New Bucks Head tomorrow night.

The Spartans enjoyed the better of the going, with Paul Brayson and Chris McCabe denied by Telford keeper Ryan Young in the opening exchanges.

Yet Mick Tait's side's momentum was derailed somewhat when the visitors were reduced to 10 men, Gavin Hurran sent off for pushing Robbie Dale in the face.

That might have opened the floodgates but Telford dug in deep, settling for a draw. Though Michael Tait, Kenny Boyle and Gareth Williams went close these were half-chances at best. When Blyth - with 642 looking on - went closer still, Brayson could only steer a header into the side-netting.

It means their league game at Stalybridge Celtic tomorrow is postponed, a trip to Telford in its place. But Tait remains optimistic about Blyth's FA Cup hopes.

"We weren't at our most fluid but we did enough to win the game and we should have done," said Tait.

"We were the best side, 11 men against 11. I heard some of their players as they were coming off at half-time. They were glad to be going off with the score 0-0.

"They were muttering that we'd battered them. I wouldn't have put it as strongly as that, because we weren't really at our best, but we created a lot of chances.

"The trouble was that they were only half-chances.

"We usually create a lot more clear-cut chances but these weren't. We needed a bit of luck for them to go in, and we didn't get it.

"We can go down there and there's no reason why we can't win."

Meanwhile, Blyth Town drew 0-0 with Cramlington Town in the Northern Alliance Premier Division.

BLYTH SPARTANS: Bell, Harrison, Brackstone, Tait, Williams, Craddock, McCabe, Doninger, Brayson, Graham, Dale. Subs (not used): Todd, Turnbull, Boyle, Alexander, Gillies, Webster, Norton.

AFC TELFORD: Young, Vaughan, Newton, Cowan, Killock, Hurren, Nurse, Rodgers, Carey-Bertram, Thompson, Trainer. Subs (not used): Adams, Torpey, Field, Brown, Blakeman, Edwards, Whitehead.

Ref: S Ledger (England). Att: 642.

Blyth father vows to fight on for cancer drug

2009-10-24T11:33:41Z

Cancer patient Guy Hedley has vowed to fight on for a potentially life-enhancing drug after health bosses turned down his appeal for the third time.

The father-of-two, who suffers from bowel cancer, was told he did not meet the "exceptional circumstances" needed to get Avastin funded by the NHS.

Guy Hedley with his daughters Amy, left, and Claire

Mr Hedley, of Blyth, believes taking the drug could help prolong his life and buy him precious time with his family.

The 47-year-old, who was diagnosed with the disease in June last year, has slammed the decision made by health chiefs at the NHS Northumberland Care Trust.

Speaking from his home in Cambo Close, Mr Hedley said: "It's devastating. I just can't believe it, but we will keeping applying for it. I think it's shocking that if you have cancer, you can get chemotherapy OK, but not Avastin.

"It's very frustrating and upsetting. My whole family are suffering. There have been times when I have felt like just giving up. But I know that we have to keep fighting, not just for ourselves, but for other people like us."

Mr Hedley, who has had six courses of the treatment privately so far, is convinced it his helping him and believes the drug should be funded on the NHS.

He says Avastin will not kill his tumour but is helping to keep it at bay and will allow him extra years with wife Rhonda and daughters Amy, 15, and Claire, 13.

In a desperate bid to help their dad, the girls wrote to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking him to help.

Mr Hedley, who is also having chemotherapy, has already forked out £11,000 from his mortgage funds to pay for the Avastin privately, at a cost of £1,800 for each treatment.

Mrs Hedley said: "We are fighting to keep him alive. Guy wants to be able to walk the girls down the aisle. We were looking forward to the rest of our lives together and spending quality time together when the girls grow up.

"But now I feel like we are being robbed of our lives. It's heartbreaking for us to know that he is suffering and there is nothing that we can do about it."

Mr Hedley suffers from an aggressive level four type of cancer which is now at an advanced stage and is inoperable.

He is hoping to take part in a clinical drugs trial at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, where he could be offered Avastin.

Mr Hedley added: "Without my family and friends and their support, I wouldn't be able to get the drug. But it shouldn't have to be like this."

The National Institute of Healthcare and Clinical Excellence (Nice), the Government's advisory body, said Avastin does too little and costs too much.

Despite patients having access to an increased number of new cancer drugs, NHS bosses have been unable to add Avastin to the list.

A spokesman for Northumberland Care Trust said: "It is distressing for patients to be told that a drug is not being made available to them on the NHS.

"Unfortunately, in this case, no evidence has been demonstrated to show that there have been clinical benefits or exceptional circumstances."

Hayley Kyle's death remains a mystery

2009-10-24T10:57:08Z

The death of mum Hayley Kyle remains a mystery, almost two months after her body was found at home.

Police say they still have no idea how the 29-year-old came to die at her home in William Street, Blyth, on September 4 after a post mortem examination and toxicology tests failed to establish a cause of death.

Hayley's husband Jimmy, 31, was arrested in connection with her death. Mr Kyle, who was left disabled after a bottle attack two years ago, has now been told he will not face charges.

Det Chief Insp Ian Bentham, who is leading the inquiry into her death, has now ordered more tests in a bid to find out how Hayley died.