A NURSING home worker appeared in court yesterday accused of a sex offence against a female resident aged 92.

George Fleming, 60, pleaded not guilty to indecent assault at the Tancred Hall Nursing Home, at Whixley, near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, last October. Harrogate magistrates sent him for trial. Mr Fleming, of Boroughbridge, who was a driver, gardener and handyman at the home, was bailed until July 24 .

REUNION WEEKEND: A North-East church is holding a reunion weekend to celebrate 30 years of its playgroup. Anyone who has worked or helped at the Elim Pentecostal Church playgroup, in Darlington, is invited to attend this weekend with children and parents. Between 1pm and 5pm on Saturday there will be a family fun day and at 7pm at the church there will be a quiz night. On Sunday at 10am there will be a celebration service and buffet for former staff and at 6pm there will be an evening service for anyone who knew Pastor Godfrey Fern.

HOSPICE CONCERT: A fundraising concert will take place at Polam Hall School, Darlington, on Saturday, as part of the national Hospice Sunflower Campaign. The Richardson Singers and Durham County Youth Big Band will take part in the event, in aid of Darlington's St Teresa's Hospice. Tickets cost £6, or £5 for concessions, and are available at the door. The concert starts at 7.30pm.

PARK BANDSTAND: Workmen are putting the final touches to the replica bandstand for Newcastle's Leazes Park. Glasgow company Heritage Engineering researched old photographs of the original, before carrying out the work. The bandstand is part of a £3.7m project to revamp the park, by Newcastle City Council, through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

BARNEY SHOW: Tiny tots' can sing and dance with their TV favourite, Barney the dinosaur, in a free show at the Gateshead MetroCentre next week. With his friends BJ and Baby Bop, he will be performing a 20-minute routine in the centre's Exhibition Square on Wednesday and Thursday, at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

HOSPICE GARDEN: A garden has been unveiled at Albert Park, Middlesbrough, to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Teesside Hospice. The hospice flower logo is the focal point of the Celebration Garden, which will include an avenue of trees, shrubs, plants and bulbs and a pathway of dedicated engraved bricks.

ROMAN DAY: Amateur historians with an interest in Roman Britain can visit Hartlepool Archaeological Day when the period will be brought to life by actors. The free event will include centurions and naval officers in period costumes as well as displays of Roman weapons. It will be held at Summer Hill Park, off Catcote Road in Hartlepool between 12pm and 4pm on June 22.

BLUES CONCERT: North-East blues bands the Blueskins and The Everlasting First perform in the Cluny, Byker, Newcastle, on July 15.