The ‘Living well with your cancer’ course is being run between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie.

It is open to people who have had cancer or are still receiving treatment, giving them a chance to talk, share feelings, meet people and find out about help available.

The programme will take place every Thursday from March 1, for six weeks from 1pm to 3pm, being held at Albion Road Resource Centre, Spring Terrace, North Shields.

Marie Archer, 43, from Forest Hall, survived breast cancer and is urging people to attend.

The volunteer for Macmillan Support Service said: “When I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007, there was nothing like this available.

“It was such a scary time.

“I felt there were so many decisions to make, so much to take in.

“I think these courses are a great opportunity to meet people in a similar situation, to find out what they did, and get practical information and advice about how to make living with cancer easier for you and your family.”

Macmillan Support Service team leader Lisa Johnstone said: “Through the course we hope to give people like Marie the information and support that will help them to make choices and decisions, to further improve their quality of life for them and their family.

“Each session will offer practical information and support and there will be an opportunity for people to talk through any concerns.”

For more information or to book a place contact Macmillan Support Service on (0191) 219 4618.

TWO men have been arrested following an assault and a collision in Blyth.

Just after 6am today (Thursday), police received a report about a collision on Hodgson’s Road, Blyth.

Paramedics attended the scene and a man was taken to Wansbeck General Hospital with minor injuries.

Officers believe there was an altercation before the collision happened and are carrying out enquiries.

Two men aged 22 and 25-years-old have been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call police on 101.

RESIDENTS in Wallsend are being encouraged to join police at an online meeting.

Officers are hosting the event on Wednesday, February 29, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, where residents are invited to go online and ask questions and get crime prevention advice as well as finding out more about their local neighbourhood team.

Wallsend Temporary Inspector Phil McConville said: “We hope local people will join us to find out more about how we police their community.

“Residents can stay for the entire meeting and share the views of other participants, or just spend a few minutes to ask a specific question.

“We’re looking forward to our leap year meeting.”

To take part visit www.northumbria.police.uk/online and go to the Wallsend online meeting link.

FASHION chain Peacocks has closed their branch in Killingworth.

An announcement was made on Wednesday that the Edinburgh Woollen Mill chain had bought the company out of administration, saving around 6,000 jobs.

However, 224 stores ceased trading with immediate effect, the shop at the White Swan Centre in Killingworth being one of those axed, costing 3,100 staff nationwide their jobs.

The chain’s two other North Tyneside stores, in Whitley Bay’s Park View shopping centre and Bedford Street in North Shields, will remain open.

Peacocks went into administration in January 2012, triggering large-scale job losses at its Cardiff head office.

Edinburgh Woolen Mill this week took over 338 stores, 57 concessions, three distribution centres and the chain’s Welsh head office.

Philip Day, chairman and chief executive of the Langholm-based firm, said: “We look forward to working with our new colleagues to rebuild the business in what is a very tough economic environment for high-street retailers in the UK.

“As you can imagine, there will be a considerable amount of work to undertake over the next few months to stabilise the situation, turn this business around, get the supply chain moving again and excite the customers with great products.”

A CHARITY event is being held at Forest Hall’s Percy Hedley Foundation to mark International Wheelchair Day next month.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the day, fundraising activities including a basketball game are being staged at foundation’s sports academy on Thursday, March 1.

The event is being organised by Andrew Pickering and Peter Garland, both of Gosforth.

Andrew said: “We knew about the Percy Hedley sports academy and the fantastic work they do.

“This event will raise awareness of the challenges of using a wheelchair to get around but also celebrate the freedom wheelchairs bring to their users.

“We added the fundraising element to the event to support the work of the foundation.”

Academy sports development manager Adam Parry, pictured, said: “We are delighted that our sports academy has been chosen as a venue to celebrate International Wheelchair Day.

“There will be lots to do and see including a wheelchair basketball game, an art exhibition and a charity gunging which will hopefully raise lots of money for us.”

The event runs from 4pm to 9pm, and all are welcome. Admission is free.

Visit www.percyhedley.org.uk or www.iwd2012.moonfruit.com for details.

A LIFEBOAT crew was involved in a double rescue on Monday after two trawlers with six fishermen onboard became stranded at sea.

The alarm was raised at 2.35pm after North Shields-based Good Fellowship got into difficulties while towing trawler Trustful, which had broken down

Tynemouth RNLI all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland, with six volunteer crew, reached the stricken vessels eight miles south east of the Tyne piers, 25 minutes after the alarm was raised.

A tow rope was attached to the Good Fellowship and the convoy reached the Tyne piers after approximately two-and-a-half hours sailing.

Lifeboat coxwain Michael Nugent had to undertake a series of difficult manoeuvres to control the two powerless boats in the confined area of the Tyne harbour and berth them at North Shields fish quay.

Tynemouth RNLI spokesman Adrian Don said: “The skipper of the trawler Good Fellowship had taken the Trustful under tow after her propeller became fouled in her nets, leaving her stranded eight miles south east of the Tyne.

“But shortly afterwards he was forced to call for assistance himself after his own vessel’s propeller became fouled in floating debris, leaving the pair of trawlers drifting, but still attached by a tow rope.

“Michael Nugent described the rescue as ‘interesting’ as he undertook a very difficult tow and a number of complicated manoeuvres to bring the two fishing boats and their crews to safety.

“This was a very unusual rescue and certainly the first time the Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat has rescued two large fishing boats at the same time.”