VOTERS in Stanley will go to the polls again next month for a Durham County Council by-election.

It is being held after the town's Labour county councillor, Keith Murray-Hetherington, lost his seat for not attending enough meetings. Dean McAdam is standing for the British National Party, David Rolfe is the Lib Dem candidate, Stuart Tilney is standing for the conservatives and Leslie Vaux is the Labour candidate. The by-election will be held on Thursday, July 17.

SURESTART DAY: More than 2,000 nursery age children met in the grounds of Maplewood Avenue Methodist Church, Sunderland, this week, as part of the national SureStart Month celebration of early years development. The youngsters, from across Wearside, took part in a mass dance routine, The SureStart Shuffle, choreographed by the Bare Toed Dance Group.

SAFETY SCHEME: Pennywell Neighbourhood Centre, in Sunderland, has launched a child safety equipment loan scheme, which includes items such as safety gates, smoke detectors and socket covers, to families in South Hylton, Ford Estate and Pennywell.

BIKE RIDE: Sunderland city and Durham county councils are planning an 18-mile family bike ride from Hetton Lyons Country Park to Finchale Abbey, Durham, at 10.30am on Sunday, July 6. To take part, call Ben Dellow on 0191-383 3745.

DIABETIC MEETING: Hartlepool and East Durham Diabetic Group will meet on Wednesday, July 9, from 10am to noon, in the new Guide headquarters at Peterlee. To attend, call Jean Hill on (01429) 836911.

CREDIT POINT: Durham City and District Credit Union's city centre collection point will be open today, from noon to 1.30pm, at St Nicholas Church, Market Place, Durham. To join the union, call 0191-384 9133.

WARD BRIEFING: People in the Murton West ward, in east Durham, are invited to put questions to members of county, district and parish councils in a surgery at McNally House Community Centre, Murton, on Wednesday, from 7pm to 8pm.

DONOR DATE: A blood donor session will be held today in the Holy Rosary Church Hall, at the junction of Abercorn Road and Arbroath Road, Farringdon, Sunderland, from 2.30pm to 7pm.

WEDDING DISPLAY: An exhibition of wedding accessories, crochet items, bags, doilies and collars will be held tomorrow at Seaton Holme, Hall Walks, Easington Village, from 11am to 4pm.

CHURCH FAIR: North Road Methodist Church, in Durham, will hold a summer strawberry fair, as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, on Saturday, July 5.