LOCAL women enjoyed a little extra New Year cheer when they cuddled up to EastEnders star Shane Richie.

The six women won the chance to spend the evening with the entertainer after running successful slimming classes. They met Shane, who plays the Queen Vic's rogue manager Alfie Moon, at the Slimming World annual award ceremony. The six women Susan Sadler, Marie Devlin, June Hall, Gillian Groves, Lisa Raw and Yvonne Clark, provide classes in the North-East. June Hall, who runs a class in Middlesbrough, said: "He was a really nice guy, so easy to talk to. He was full of admiration for our slimmers and seemed genuinely impressed by the work we do."

PIANO RECITAL: Pianist Eduardo Monteiro will play at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, Kirkleatham, on Friday, January 17, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Sotheran's stationary shop, Queen Street, Redcar, on (01642) 490401.

HOSPICE SERVICE: The Butterwick Children's Hospice annual ecumenical thanksgiving and praise service will be held at Stockton Baptist Tabernacle on Sunday, at 3pm. The address will be given by the Abbot of Ampleforth, the Right Reverend Timothy Wright, and the leader will be the Reverend Roger Martin.

BUSINESS PLAN: Developers have submitted plans for a new business park for Stockton's Primrose Hill industrial estate. The scheme, if granted permission by Stockton Borough Council, would include three blocks of offices and workshops. Supreme Property Development are behind the scheme.

BIGGER CLASSES: Redhouse School, in Norton, Stockton, is planning to build a new extension for extra classrooms and office accommodation. The plans, submitted to Stockton Borough Council, include demolishing a building and creating a new car park. The school has also applied for listed building consent for internal alterations.

NEW COURSES: China painting, digital photography and T-shirt design are just some of the courses on offer through Stockton's adult education service. A new term begins on Monday, January 13, and many of the courses are free thanks to the European Social Fund. There will also be extra help available for students needing financial support.

SKILLS INSIGHT: A free course on basic book-keeping skills starts at The Willows, Portrack, Stockton, on Wednesday, January 15. The course is run by Stockton Borough Council. A free creche is also available. For details, call (01642) 393575.

CHARITY BOOST: Santa's appearance at a Middlesbrough shopping centre helped raise nearly £4,000 for charity. A Christmas grotto at the Hill Street Centre was free to youngsters, but parents were offered the chance to make as donation to Zoe's Place Trust, which plans to open a baby hospice in the New Year. The £3,948 raised will now go towards setting up the hospice in the former Crossbeck Convent, in Normanby.