POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a collision involving a car and a motorcyclist.

The accident happened on Friday, at 2pm, in Eaglescliffe, where South View meets Durham Lane. It is thought the collision happened when the Yamaha bike left South View as the Citroen Saxo turned into the street. The rider was taken to University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, with a fractured leg. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact PC Neil Foster on (01642) 301558.

BRIDGE CLOSURE: The Transporter Bridge will be closed for about three weeks, from next Monday. Overhead trolley rails which carry the gondola across the river have to be removed as part of the bridge repainting.

HOUSE FIRE: Middlesbrough fire crews were called a house fire on Saturday, at 11.30pm, after a pan of cooking oil caught fire. Three engines were deployed to Rutland Court, Middlesbrough. There was moderate smoke damage to the kitchen and minor smoke damage to the lounge.

SHED TARGETED: Arsonists destroyed a shed in Spencerfield Crescent, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, at 1.45pm on Saturday. One fire engine from Grangetown attended the blaze.

GIVING BLOOD: People can donate blood at a donor session today at the Methodist Church Hall, Kings Road, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, between 3pm and 7pm.

WARD SURGERIES: From tomorrow, Middlesbrough councillor Jackie Elder will restart her ward surgeries on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Friends Meeting House, in Cambridge Road. The second Tuesday surgeries will be held at St Barnabas Church Hall, in St Barnabas Road, and the fourth at St Mary's church hall, in Green Lane. Surgeries are held from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

COOKER BLAZE: Fire crews were called to a cooker fire at a flat in Stockton. The fire was out when they arrived at the property in Frederick Street at 1.15pm yesterday. No one was injured. There was light smoke damage to the kitchen and living room.

CEMETERIES CLEAN-UP: A group of out-of-work people are today helping Middlesbrough Council tidy up two of the town's cemeteries. Six people from the New Deal scheme will be working two days a week for the next six weeks in St Joseph and North Ormesby cemeteries.

COFFEE DATE: A community organisation in Hemlington is supporting Macmillan Cancer Relief's worlds biggest coffee morning fundraising drive. The Sure Start programme and the Newham Parents' Network are holding the coffee morning and activities for children between 9.30am and 11.30am on September 26 at Hemlington Recreation Centre. For more details, call (01642) 576472.