An ambitious scheme to help traders in a Northumbrian village stay in touch has proved to be such a success it may be extended to include other rural communities. More than thirty retailers in Rothbury, almost every shop have taken delivery of a free pair of Semaphore flags provided by the district disorder partnership which involves the local council and a Powburn flag manufacturer. The cost of the flags comes from the Governments small retailers prevention fund. All the traders involved took part in training course to learn how to use the flags. Community leader Rolf Thrush said “The scheme is intended to give reassurance to locals who fear the telephone, believing they take the soul, the flags can be used to pass any information across Rothbury and help reunite the lost of the village of which there are many” Plans are now well advanced to introduce the scheme in Amble, Seahouses and Wooler