A FORMER paratrooper has been praised for his swift response following an explosion at a neighbour's home.

Carl Foot ran to the property in Bayswater Avenue, Town End Farm, Sunderland. On hearing a scream, he kicked the house door in and dragged Tony Gurling to safety. Mr Gurling, 57, suffered 50 per cent burns and was last night undergoing treatment at Newcastle General Hospital. Police, the fire service and Transco engineers are investigating the cause of the explosion, which happened on Tuesday.

THEATRE VISIT: Children will visit the Empire Theatre, in Sunderland, next Thursday to see a "child-friendly" interpretation of Macbeth, as part of a scheme run by Shakespeare 4 Kidz. The theatre company recently held workshops about the play with year five and six children from Plains Farm, Broadway Junior and Farringdon Primary schools, in Sunderland.

ART EDUCATION: Tanfield Lea Community Centre, near Stanley, holds art classes on Fridays, from 1pm to 3pm, as part of an Education in the Community initiative. For details, call Miranda Donneky on (01207) 231570.

TALKING SPUDS: Gordon Gilson will give a talk, called Potatoes, to Houghall Horticultural Society on Tuesday, November 11, at East Durham and Houghall Community College's Houghall site, near Durham, at 7.30pm. For details, call 0191-384 5057.

FIREWORKS SHOW: Dalton Park, at Murton, east Durham, is holding a fireworks' event tonight, from 6pm to 8pm. It features a firework display, a large inflatable Frankenstein, a fancy dress competition for children and a mini fun-fair. Admission is free.

AUTUMN FAIR: Parkinson Memorial Methodist Church, in Sherburn Village, will hold an autumn fair in aid of church funds, on Saturday, at 2.30pm. Admission is £1, including refreshments, or 20p without.

ANNIVERSARY NIGHT: Whickham District Motor Club will hold its 40th anniversary celebration tomorrow in Kibblesworth Working Men's Club, near Gateshead, at 8pm.

HISTORY TALK: Karen Exell, of Durham University, will give a talk called An Ancient Egyptian Scribe From Deir el Medina on Saturday, at 2pm in the city's Oriental Museum. Admission is free.

DANCE NIGHT: Durham Indoor Bowling Club, at Pity Me, will hold a 50/50 dance night on Saturday, from 8pm to 11pm. Admission is £2 for members and £2.50 for non-members. For details call 0191-384 0700.

COFFEE MORNING: St Cuthbert's Church, Shadforth, will hold a fundraising coffee morning in the community centre at nearby Ludworth, on Saturday, from 10.30am.

CLUB DISPLAY: Durham City Rugby Club's fireworks display will be held at its Hollow Drift ground, in Green Lane, on Saturday. The display will start at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £2, are available from the clubhouse. For details call 0191-386 1172