Blyth

The town of Blyth (the largest in Northumberland) is looking a lot prettier these days... at least it is down in the beach area, where we occasionally take Gracie for walks. They've built some lovely little beach huts (for which I guess there's a long waiting list) as well as restoring the old gun battery and generally smartening up the surrounding landscaping. North Tyneside Council could do worse than pay a visit to get some simple yet effective ideas for the ongoing regeneration of good 'ol Whitley Bay.

I remember when they built similar huts along the promenade at WB. They were built on a turntable so that you could turn them to face the sun as it moved across the sky. A favourite pastime of the local kids was to run across the roofs from one end to the other while the occupants ranted and raved at this disturbance of their flask of tea and egg and cress sarnies!