The Ramside Hall, at Carrville, near Durham, is to mark its 40th anniversary as a hotel with a ruby anniversary celebration next month.

Three hundred guests have been invited to the event, which features an afternoon garden party and dinner, followed by entertainment, including Sir Norman Wisdom, on September 7.

NEW COURSES: Three new courses start in Dipton Community Centre, near Stanley, next month. Tai Chi classes begin on Thursday, September 4, from 1pm to 3pm, with yoga on the same day, from 7pm to 9pm. Weightwatchers sessions start on Wednesday, September 10, from 6.30pm to 8pm. For further details, contact (01207) 570003, or 570197.

ART DISPLAY: Beamish Hall Art Group stages an exhibition of its recent work at County Hall, Durham, from tomorrow. Thirty members of the group, which now meets at the community centre in Bearpark, near Durham, have contributed 70 paintings and drawings which will remain on display in The Durham Room for a fortnight. Councillor Alan Fenwick, chairman of Durham County Council, will launch the exhibition at a preview this evening.

FARMERS' MARKETS: Farmers' markets are now staged on the first Tuesday of each month in Chester-le-Street Market Place and the third Thursday of each month in the Market Place, Durham, from 10am to 3pm. Traders involved are all members of the National Association of Farmers' Markets. Further details are available on 0191-387 1805 or 384 6153.

CURTAIN UP: Tickets are selling well for the five-show run of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which opens at Durham's Gala Theatre, tomorrow. The production, by the County Durham youth theatre group Dionysis, runs until Saturday, with curtain up at 7.30pm nightly, and at 2pm for a Saturday matinee. Tickets costing £12 can be booked via the box office, on 0191-332 4041.

FLORAL DEMO: The Cestrian Flower Club will hold a display, A Garden of Change, taken by Welsh demonstrator Keith Smithies, at Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street, on Thursday, September 4, at 7.15pm.

WAR WOMEN: Photographer Jenny Matthews, who has covered most major conflicts around the world over the past 20 years, presents a display of her work, Women and War, at the Side Photographic Gallery, Newcastle, from Saturday until Sunday, October 12. The gallery, at 5-9 The Side, is open from Tuesday to Sunday, between 11am and 5pm. Ms Matthews will discuss her work at a free talk at the gallery on Tuesday, September 9, at 6pm.