THE Lion King takes to the large screen at Durham's Gala Theatre over the festive period.

Disney's popular children's classic will be given the wide screen treatment with four showings, at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm, daily from Boxing Day. Tickets, costing £4.75 and £3.50, are available from the Gala box office, on 0191-332 4041. The Lion King temporarily replaces The Sacred Journey, the specially-commissioned film telling the story of Northumbrian monk, St Cuthbert, which usually greets visitors arriving in Durham. It will return in the New Year.

WARD SURGERY: Easington district councillors Rob Crute, Mark Curry and Jeff Gray, and Durham county councillor Alan Cox will hold a surgery for people in the Blackhalls ward on Saturday, from 10.30am to noon, in Hesleden Community Association, Front Street, Hesleden.

PUPPET PANTO: Puppet pantomime, Aladdin, by Presto Puppets, is at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, tomorrow, at 1.30pm and 7pm, and Thursday, at 10am and 1.30pm. Tickets are £4. To book, call (01207) 218899.

BUILDING BRIDGES: Beginners' bridge classes will be starting at Chester-le-Street Community Centre on January 16, on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. The course is £30. Call at the centre on Newcastle Bank, or call 0191-3884752 to enrol.

WEB DESIGN: Web design sessions take place every Monday from January 6 at Laurel Avenue Community Centre, Sherburn Road, Durham, between 12.15pm and 1.45pm. To book a place on the eight-week course, call Gilesgate Community Association on 0191-3861933.

EXAM SUCCESS: Jacqueline Wilkinson, 23, from Bishop Auckland, has gained the highest marks in Northern England for her accounting exam for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Ms Wilkinson, who works at the Chester-le-Street branch of Rowlands Chartered Accountants, is now studying for further ICAEW exams.

GOLD STAR: Bullion Lane Primary School, in Chester-le-Street, has been given top marks for the behaviour of its pupils. It was recently presented with a trophy by Durham County Council in recognition of the school's behaviour management strategy and the good behaviour of children. Inspectors from the Local Education Authority had noted the students' behaviour and the school's calm atmosphere during visits throughout the year.

CARS DESTROYED: A Ford Orion and a Peugeot 205 were destroyed, and another Peugeot and a Citroen Xantia were damaged after a fire broke out at the steward's house at Seaham Golf Club, Dawdon, in the early hours of yesterday. The clubhouse extension was also damaged. The cause of the fire is being investigated.