The Co-op Site Action Group is to hold a protest this morning at the Middlesbrough Co-operative Club in an attempt to try and stop the former sports club being demolished to make way for housing.

Last year there was an outcry when the club closed after being bought by developer George Wimpey, and hundreds of members of the club tried to strike a deal with the developer to allow them to rent the property and keep it open. Since then the area has been turned into waste land with the planning application withdrawn and a new one being prepared. The group would like to secure the club's future and make it more widely available for residents.

COMMUNITY FORUM: Members of Loftus Community Forum have picked up more than 200 bags of rubbish in the town. Although they do have some litter picking instruments they are on loan and they would like more. They are concerned about boarded-up shops in the High Street and have permission to spruce up one shopfront with a mural by sixth-form art students at Freebrough College. The forum meets at the Station Hotel, Loftus on the first Monday of every month at 7pm. Everyone is welcome and membership is 50p.

SMOKING CONFERENCE: A conference on smoking is being held on Monday at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. The event runs from 7pm to 9.30pm, and will be attended by health care professionals. The Teesside smoking cessation service aims to give valuable information to health care professionals that will assist them in delivering adviceon quitting smoking and support to their patients. Chris Steele will speak about quitting smoking, and Hayden McRobbie will be speaking about passive smoking and smoking in pregnancy.

DINING EXTENSION: Middlesbrough Borough Council has received a planning application from Beverley School in the town for planning permission to build a single-storey dining area extension.

MAY FAIR: Traders are being reminded that this year's Butterwick May Day fair takes place on Monday, May 5, on Norton Green, Norton. Stalls cost £15 and must be booked. For information, call Sarah Eldon at the hospice on (01642) 624231.