ST James' Church, Coundon, launched its Under the Roof Appeal at an open day in the village yesterday.

Parishioners have raised £124,000 in grants from the Northumbria Historic Churches Trust and English Heritage and are asking the community to help raise the final £30,000 needed for work to start. It is hoped repairs will start in spring.

NEW STORE: A £770,000 Co-op store will open in Church Road, Trimdon Station, at 9.30am tomorrow. To mark the occasion, a £1,000 cheque will be presented to children from the neighbouring Trimdon Village Community Infant School. The supermarket will provide jobs for 20 people.

CLUB REFIT: Work on a £70,000 refurbishment at Riley's Snooker Club, in Darlington, begins today. The club will be open during the work, which finishes on December 20.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: A flower demonstration will take place at the Community Church Hall, Kirk Merrington, on Friday, to raise funds for the Dystonia charity and the village's St John's Church.

FESTIVE CONCERT: Bishop Auckland Music Society presents a concert by the Durham Singers in Bishop Auckland Castle on Friday, at 7.15pm. Tickets are available at the door, from Top Sounds, Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, on (01388) 609444, or from Peter Cooper on 0191-386 8622.

POPPY APPEAL: The annual Poppy Appeal in Crook raised £1,413 for the Royal British Legion.

PARTNERSHIP MEETS: The next meeting of the Crook Community Partnership is on Thursday, at 7pm, in St Catherine's Community Centre, Market Place, Crook.

PARISH COUNCIL: Etherley Parish Council will hold a meeting at Toft Hill and Etherley Community Centre tomorrow, from 6.45pm.

DENTAL CARE: Sure Start Wear Valley's Smile for Life group, a dental care club for pre-school children, holds meetings at Woodhouse Close Church, Bishop Auckland, every Thursday, from 9.30am. For details call (01388) 665665.

DANCE DATE: Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, will hold a tea dance tomorrow, from 1.30pm.

CHURCH FAIR: Trinity Methodist Church, Spennymoor, will hold a Christmas fair on Saturday, from 10am.

PARTNERS MEET: Wear Valley Local Strategic Partnership holds its sixth meeting next Monday, in the Civic Centre, Crook.

COUNCIL COMMITTEES: Spennymoor Town Council's allotments committee and finance and general purposes committee will meet at the town hall tomorrow, at 6.45pm.

DANCE DATE: A dance to the music of the George Rowell Orchestra will be held at Butterknowle Village Hall, Teesdale, on Saturday. Tickets are available on (01388) 718858.