About 300 litres of industrial solvent were spilled from a drum at the PRC Desoto International factory in Darlington Road, Shildon, yesterday afternoon. Firefighters using breathing apparatus neutralised the solvent and prevented it from entering drains in a containment exercise lasting about two hours.

CURTAIN UP: Ferryhill Amateur Operatic Society presents Me and My Girl at Mainsforth and District Community Centre, Ferryhill Station, from Tuesday, October 29, to November 2. Performances start at 7pm. Tickets are available on (01740) 654094 and (01740) 652175.

NIGHT FEVER: A 70s night will be held at The Beehive, Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, next Thursday, to raise cash for the Butterwick Hospice. Tickets are available from Hays Travel's Bishop Auckland or Shildon branches, or the hospice, in Woodhouse Lane.

CONCERT CASH: Crook Rotary Club is holding a Gershwin night at Cockton Hill Methodist Church, Bishop Auckland next Friday. Tickets are available from Tom Cramb on (01388) 526449. All proceeds will go towards PolioPlus.

TABLE-TOP SALE: A table-top and car boot sale will be held at Horndale Working Men's Club, Newton Aycliffe, on Saturday, November 9 from 10am. Bookings can be made on (01325) 313924 or 314105.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Tickets are available for the Sedgefield Locality Carers Centre Christmas party at the RAFA Club, Barrington Road, Newton Aycliffe, on Thursday, December 12, from 7pm. Tickets are available on (01325) 313123.

ROCKING NIGHT: Cockton Hill Working Men's Club in Bishop Auckland is holding a 1950s to 1970s disco tomorrow, from 7.30pm.

ITALIAN EVENING: St Mark's Church, Eldon, is hosting an Italian evening with a supper and quiz next Friday, at 7.30pm. Tickets can be obtained from Eldon Lane Post Office.

50/50 DANCE: The Midi Dance Orchestra is holding a 50/50 dance for ballroom and sequence, on Friday, October 18, at 8pm, in Spennymoor Town Hall. Admission is £3. For more details, contact (01388) 817914.

CENTRE SALE: A table top sale will be held at St Catherine's Community Centre, in Crook Market Place, on Saturday October 19, from 9.30am until noon. To book tables at £5 each contact (01388) 776706.

FAMILY HISTORY: The Sedgefield Family History Group meets at 7.45pm on Monday, October 21, at Ceddesfeld Hall, Rectory Row, Sedgefield. The speaker is Alex Sampson who will be talking about Oddities and Coincidences in Family Research.

DAY TRIP: The Friends of Senior Citizens' charity has organised a day trip to Liverpool on Tuesday. The cost of the trip is £12 and there are pick-up points at Fishburn, Sedgefield, Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, Heighington and Darlington.