POLICE are appealing for information after a series of thefts at the weekend.

Two houses in Barnard Castle were broken into and money taken, between 6am and 9am on Saturday in Hilton Road; and on Saturday night in Dawson Road. Items were also stolen from a caravan in Coundon, and a mountain bike taken from a garden on the Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland, on Saturday night. Wheel trims were taken from a car in Evenwood and a CD player from a Mercedes van in West Auckland.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01388) 603566.

CHARITY BOOST: A Burns Night in Sedgefield's Ceddesfeld Hall on Saturday raised £150 for the Mayor of Sedgefield's charity, which this year is devoted to the young people of the village.

RAILWAY TALK: Bishop Auckland Civic Society will host a slide show and talk by John Askwith, called The Weardale Railway and Heritage Line, at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Tuesday, at 7.30pm.

VOLUNTEER APPEAL: Volunteers, aged over 18, are needed to help at the Gateway Clubs for educationally disadvantaged people. Junior Gateways is held every Monday, from 6.15pm to 8.15pm, and senior Gateways every Wednesday, from 6.30pm to 9pm, at the King James Community Centre, South Church Road, Bishop Auckland.

BLUES EVENING: A blues evening with the Mojo Hand Blues Band takes place every Tuesday at the Sunnydene Lodge, Howden-le-Wear.

SHOWROOM PLANS: Homecare Heating Supplies has submitted plans to Darlington Borough Council to extend its showroom, warehouse and offices in Valley Street North, Darlington.

NEW APPROACH: County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, which looks after people with mental health problems and learning disabilities, is to pilot a combination of holistic treatment and medication in the treatment of schizophrenia.

CHURCH PLEA: Community leaders in Middleton St George are urging residents to lend their support to help meet St Laurence's Church running costs.

SCHOOL BOOST: The annual parent teacher association end-of-term draw at Teesdale School, Barnard Castle, raised £1,536.

TODDLER GROUP: Parents living in the Helmington Row and Wheatbottom areas of Crook who would like to start a parent/toddler group can attend a meeting on Tuesday, from 1pm to 3pm, at the Elite Hall, Crook. The meetings, organised by Surestart in Wear Valley East, will be held every fortnight.

SELF-DEFENCE: A karate club takes place at Hartside School Community Centre, Crook, on Fridays, from 5.45pm to 7.30pm. The class caters for eight-year-olds to adults. More details are available from Doug on (01388) 745316.