A RESTAURANT manager has been assaulted by a man who stole cash left by a customer.

In the incident, at 10.30pm on Thursday, the manager chased a man and woman from Lewis's, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, but when he caught the woman, the man ran back and punched him before they both fled.

The man was white, 5ft 10in with short, dark hair and wearing a dark blue top and cream tracksuit bottoms. The woman, also white, was 5ft 4in, plump with long bleached hair, and also wore cream tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information is asked to call Middlesbrough CID on (01642) 303126.

THREE HURT: Three people were injured when a Peugot car left the road and hit a concrete fence at Brotton on Thursday night. A 29-year-old, at first thought to have a broken neck, was later released from hospital, but a 22-year-old man was detained at Middlesbrough General with a broken leg and collar bone. A 19-year-old woman suffered severe whiplash injuries. Witnesses to the accident, between the A173 at Brotton and the A174 in North Skelton, are asked to call PC Mark Lightfoot on (01642) 301558.

PLANNING TALKS: Egglescliffe Parish Council is holding a public meeting to discuss local planning issues at 7.30pm on Tuesday, June 24. Anyone wanting to know more about everything from extensions to extensive developments is invited to attend the meeting, at Tereshkova House, Egglescliffe School. The guest speaker will be Steve Barker, head of planning at Stockton Borough Council.

WELL DONE: Billingham's Asda store has announced the winners of its Father's Day design-a-card competition. Lucie Fleet, nine, of Roseberry Primary School, won the first prize of a 5kg Toblerone bar worth £45. Rosie Allen, seven, of Pentland Primary School and Katie Sigsworth, eight, were runners up and each won a pack of lager for their fathers.

HERBAL HINTS: People can learn how herbs are used in medicine and cosmetics, at Guisborough Forest and Walkway, from 10am to 4pm on Monday. Places cost £3, and can be booked by calling (01287) 631132.

SUMMER FUN: Ings Farm Primary School, in Stirling Road, Redcar, is holding a summer fair at 2pm today.