Four new courses are starting at Chester-le-Street Community Association.

Lessons in the Japanese martial art of Aikido begin on Tuesday, April 29. Courses in Yoga for beginners and improvers start on Tuesday, May 13. Musical workshops for pre-school children begin on Monday, May 19, and a course on how to research a family tree is also being offered. For details, or to book a place, call 0191-388 4752.

DONOR DATES: Blood donor sessions will be held at Deerness Valley School, Bracken Court, Ushaw Moor, on Tuesday, from 3pm to 7pm, and on Wednesday, in the community centre, Tunstall Village Road, Silksworth, Sunderland, from 2.30pm to 7pm.

WARD SURGERY: Easington district councillors will hold a surgery for people in the Blackhalls ward at Airlie House, Coast Road, Blackhall, next Saturday, from 10.30am to noon. Durham county councillor Alan Cox will also attend.

KIDS' CHURCH: The Jezreel Kids' Church, for youngsters aged seven to 11, meets every Sunday in the Methodist Chapel, Front Street, Dipton, near Stanley, from 10am to noon. To join, call the Reverend Gerrard Hurst on (01207) 230977.

COASTAL WALK: Historian Donald Miller will lead an eight-mile walk around Easington Village and the coast tomorrow, starting at 10.30am, from Easington District Council car park in Easington Village. The walk costs £2, concessions are £1.

NEW COURSE: A course in aromatherapy will be held at Park View Community Association, Chester-le-Street, on Wednesdays, from 7pm to 9pm, starting on April 30. To join, call 0191-388 1043.

MEMBERS SOUGHT: The East Durham Play and Community Network Toy Library is seeking members. Membership is £2 for a family or £5 for organisations. To join, call (01429) 882241.

BIGGER SCHOOL: Durham County Council is seeking permission for a single-storey extension at Laurel Avenue County Junior and Infant School, on the Sherburn Road Estate, Durham.

EXTENSION PLAN: Durham City Council is being asked to grant permission for a two-storey pitched roof extension at the side of a house in Farnham Road, Durham, and a single-storey extension at the rear.

SPRING WALK: Chester-le-Street Ramblers will be staging a walk around Beamish on Sunday, April 27, led by Judy Rutter. Walkers should meet at Chester-le-Street Civic Centre at 9.30am.

PUB GIG: Rock band Jiab will perform at The Daisy Hill, Heugh Edge, near Sacriston, on Friday, starting at 8.30pm. Admission is £1.