POLICE, firefighters and street wardens are to be joined by a host of agencies at open days that will show people what help is available to them.

The Woodhouse Close estate, in Bishop Auckland, will be the first venue for one of two open days this month.

Every 30 minutes firefighters will give demonstrations on how to tackle chip pan fires, police will be on hand with a mobile police van, and Wear Valley street wardens will show residents how they are working in the area.

Also involved in the event on Thursday, in Proudfoot Drive, from 10am to 2pm, will be the housing department, the YIP computer bus, Victim Support, Disc, the Territorial Army, the Job Search Unit, Bishop Auckland College, the Private Care Trust, Age Concern and the benefits department. Street warden manager Roger Ward said: "We have got so many groups on this estate who are there to help and a lot of people still don't realise they are here. This is about being there and introducing ourselves to people and letting them see just what help is available."

The event will be repeated in Coundon on Thursday, August 26, in the Grey Gardens Community Centre.