Passengers on buses in Darlington run by Stagecoach face increased fares from tomorrow.

Single fares will all be increased and a £1 fare will be introduced for longer journeys in the town. There will be no changes to adult, child weekly and monthly saver tickets which can be used on Arriva and Stagecoach buses. Three new multi-save tickets are also being introduced for use on Stagecoach services only, including an all-day ticket for £1.95. For details, call (0870) 6082608.

POSTMAN'S DENIAL: Postal worker Neil Andrew Dennis, 28, pleaded not guilty to three charges of breaching his duties by opening postal packets intended for addresses in the Birkdales area of Knaresborough in June and July when he appeared before Harrogate magistrates yesterday. Mr Dennis, of Regent Avenue, Harrogate, was remanded on bail until December 20 when the case is expected to be sent to York Crown Court.

DOG'S LIFE: A six-part series is being screened about a North-East dog rehoming centre. Fly-on-the-wall documentary A Dog's Life begins on Tyne Tees and Yorkshire Television next Thursday, at 7.30pm. Filmed over six months, it concentrates on the National Canine Defence League's Rehoming Centres at Sadberge near Darlington and Eccup near Leeds.

ACTING UP: Young actors had the chance to join a Royal Shakespeare Company tour of the region. Pupils from stage schools across Sunderland auditioned yesterday in the city museum and Winter Gardens, for parts in the RSC productions of the Merry Wives of Windsor and Coriolanus.

IF AT FIRST . . . Farmer Duncan Kirby of Glebe Farm, Helperthorpe, Malton, has won the British National Young Farmers ploughing championship at his third attempt. Duncan, 27, had previously been placed fifth and second in the competition.

MURDER DENIAL: A teenager has denied murder. William Heslop is accused of killing 16-year-old Karl Brownsword at a house in Norham Avenue South, in South Shields, on August 16. The 18-year-old entered a not guilty plea in a short hearing at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday. Heslop, of Warkworth Avenue, South Shields, was granted conditional bail and will be back before the court on December 9.

WHO'S NEXT: The Northern Echo's music website, Revolution, has teamed up with record shop Music Zone to offer readers a chance to win a copy of the new Who's Greatest Hits CD. For your chance to win, log on to www.thisisrevolution.co.uk

POP TOUR: Pop star Ronan Keating is coming to the region as part of his Destination '03 tour. He will be at Newcastle Telewest Arena on Monday, April 21. For tickets, costing £23.50, call (0870) 7078000.