Darlington Building Society chief executive Peter Rowley, and general manager David Dodd, will be competing in the London Marathon on April 13 to raise money for Shelter's work with homeless children.

They are part of a 70-strong Building Societies Association team, aiming to raise £200,000 for Shelter.

LENT GUIDE: A series of events called a Journey Through Lent is being held by Bishop Auckland Fellowship of Christian Churches on Wednesday nights at Woodhouse Close Ecumenical Church, Proudfoot Drive. At the next, on March 26, at 7.30pm, the Reverend Michael Thompson will talk about his outreach work in Sierra Leone.

NATURE GROUP: The Whinnies nature reserve steering group will meet next Thursday, at 6.30pm, at the Fighting Cocks pub, Middleton-St-George, near Darlington.

CLUB MEETS: Auckland Youth and Community Centre, in Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, holds its annual meeting next Wednesday, at 6pm.

COUNCIL MEETING: The Whessoe Parish Council annual meeting will be next Wednesday in the village hall, at 7pm.

VILLAGE MEETING: Hunwick Community Association will hold its annual meeting next Thursday, at 7pm, in the community centre.

ANNUAL MEETING: Tudhoe Village Residents' Association is holding its annual meeting next Thursday, at 7.30pm, at St David's Church Hall.

OVERVIEW/SCRUTINY: Wear Valley District Council's overview and scrutiny committee will meet at Crook Civic Centre next Thursday, at 6pm.

OPEN DAY: An open day is being held in the Samaritans ofices at 13 Woodland Road, Darlington, on Saturday, March 29, from 10am to 6pm. For details, call (01325) 488679.

GUIDES SALE: Gainford Guides need jumble, books and toys for a sale in the Scout Hut, Gainford, on Saturday, at 2.30pm. For details, call (01325) 730372