THE BUPA Junior Great North Run, which has moved to Gateshead and Newcastle's Quayside area, has attracted its biggest entry.

More than 5,500 people under 17 have signed up for the 5km run on Saturday, October 5, and entries are still pouring in to Gateshead Civic Centre. The previous record for entrants was 5,372, set in 1990. An added incentive for runners this year was free tickets to the CBBC Great North Run Party, at Gateshead Stadium after the main event. The line-up includes S Club Juniors and chart-toppers Hear'Say.

WOODLAND ROLE: One of the region's best-known woodlands has a new manager. Ian Broomfield has joined the executive team in charge of the Great North Forest (GNF) as community programmes manager. His brief will be to work closely with communities on a range of activities, from promoting healthy living, to gathering and sowing seeds to encourage more woodland wildflowers. He was previously a GNF outreach worker in Shiney Row, near Sunderland.

VISIT POSTPONED: A visit by Estelle Morris, Secretary of State for Education, to Seaham School of Technology, which was scheduled for today has been cancelled until further notice. Ms Morris had been due to unveil the new specialist school sign, visit the newly refurbished maths and ICT resource area, and talk to pupils and guests. She cancelled the visit ahead of today's recall of Parliament to discuss the Iraqi crisis.

INQUEST OPENS: An inquest into the death of a 25-year-old man, who died after collapsing at Darlington's Royal Navy Club last Monday, was opened yesterday. Michael Anderson, of the YMCA Hostel, in Middleton Street, Darlington, was dead on arrival at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

ROAD DELAY: Traffic on the A1 southbound near the MetroCentre was reduced to one lane following a minor accident on the slip road from the Gateshead shopping complex, at about 3.45pm yesterday. The blockage was cleared after an hour.

SPANISH SHOW: Spanish performers Jaleo will be showing off their flamenco skills at Darlington Arts Centre on Tuesday, October 1, at 8pm. Tickets cost £10, discounts £8, and can be booked on (01325) 486555.