Chance to give views at forum

Residents and organisations are invited to a meeting of the Coastal Area Forum, at Seaton Holme, Easington Village, on Wednesday, May 28, from 6pm. Members of the district, parish and county councils will be available to answer questions about neighbourhood services and to register complaints. Items can be raised at the meeting or included on the agenda by contacting the democratic services officers at Easington District Council.

MAY DAY FESTIVAL: Seaham Town Council is holding a May Day festival on Bank Holiday Monday in Deneside Park, starting at 11am. Attractions include Mr Lido the Magician, Mr Windbags the Clown, Parkside Youth and Dance and fairground rides, which are free for under sevens. Motorists are asked use the car parks along the Dalton-le-Dale road and not to park on the public highway.

LATEST MUSICAL: Blackhill and Rowley baptist churches are staging Wildfire, the latest musical written by Roger Jones. The music will be performed by the New Life Singers from North Yorkshire, at the Blackhill Baptist Church, on Saturday, May 17, at 7pm. Supper will follow. For further details, contact Dianne Rutter on (01207) 509008, or Arthur Pearson on (01207) 506763.

STABLE PLANS: Plans to build stables, a tack room and outdoor menage on land to the east of Elddis Caravans and Butsfield Lane, Consett, will be discussed this week. Planning officers have recommended that members of Derwentside District Council's development control committee, which meets tomorrow, approve the plans.

OPEN MEETING: The mission and service team of Durham and Deerness Valley Circuit of the Methodist church will hold an open meeting on Wednesday, May 21, at 7pm. The event, which includes a presentation by John Scott on the Elvet Malawi Projects, will be held at North Road Methodist Church, Durham. There will be a buffet supper and collection.

PROFESSOR TALKS: Professor John McLeod, professor of counselling at Abertay University, Dundee, will present the next talk for the Durham branch of the Historical Association, at the Holgate Centre, Grey College, Durham, at 5.30pm on Wednesday, May 7. He will speak on research in counselling - the construction of practical knowledge. There will be a soft drinks and wine reception after the talk.

ORGANISTS MEET: The next meeting of the North-East Organ Society will be a members' night which will be held on Wednesday, May 14, in the Red Lion pub, Front Street, Chester-le-Street, at 8pm. For further details, contact 0191-442 2629.