The plan will help protect the Northumberland coastline

The AONB Management Plan identifies the threats facing the area and sets out a vision for its future protection.

It will also cover issues such as new developments, maintenance of village services and sustainable tourism.

A new grant scheme to aid community-based environmental projects will also be introduced.

The plan has been produced by Alnwick District Council, Berwick-upon-Tweed District Council, Northumberland County Council, and the Countryside Agency.

Conservation sites

The Northumberland coastline, from Amble to Berwick upon Tweed, was designated as an AONB in 1958.

It is best known for its sweeping sandy beaches, rolling dunes, high rocky cliffs and isolated islands.

The area also contains a number of conservation sites, including two national nature reserves.

Mary Lewis, AONB officer for Northumberland County Council said: "The key theme of the plan is that the coast is an evolving landscape facing many challenges.

"We have worked with a great many organisations and hundreds of individuals to produce the plan, and our focus now is to work together to ensure the AONB remains an area everybody can enjoy, identify with and that continues to contribute to the economy of Northumberland."