A 19-YEAR-OLD is in a stable condition after the car he was travelling in left the road and hit a tree. The teenager, from Willington, near Crook, underwent surgery in Darlington's Memorial Hospital on Friday for serious cuts to his neck.

He was a passenger in a white Vauxhall Cavalier, travelling on the B6288 road, Spennymoor, when the vehicle hit a tree in North Close, at the junction with North Close Road, at about 8.50pm on Friday. Police are appealing for witnesses to contact the accident unit on 0191-386 4929.

FLOWER SHOW: The Durham and Northumberland Fuchsia Society holds its 21st show at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Saturday, from 1pm to 5pm, and Sunday, from 10am to 4.30pm. For schedule and staging times contact Henry Clark at 10 Margaret Court, Bowburn, DH6 5DX, telephone 0191-377 1972.

School closed: Startforth school will be closed on Thursday, September 5, to allow the building to be used as a polling station for the Startforth with Boldron by-election.

COFFEE MORNING: A coffee morning and cake stall will be held at St Clare's Church hall, Newton Aycliffe, on Saturday, from 10am to noon. All proceeds will go to the Children's Society.

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Sedgefield Borough Council's scrutiny committee covering resource management, community safety and supporting people, will meet on Tuesday, September 3, in the council offices, Green Lane, Spennymoor.

FILM NIGHTS: The hit movie Monsters Inc will be shown in Sedgefield Parish Hall on Friday, and Bradbury and Morden Village Hall on Saturday, at 6.30pm each night. Admission is £1.50.

Golden club: Eldon Olde Tyme dance club will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Wednesday, September 4. Members will enjoy a meal at Shildon Civic Centre followed by a dance at Eldon Lane Club.

WAR COURSE: The Darlington branch of the Workers' educational Alliance is holding a ten-week course about the Spanish Civil War, on Wednesday afternoons from September 25. The course will be held in Bennet House, Horsemarket, Darlington. Further information is available on (01325) 357801.

STARR TURN: Comedian Freddie Starr will be at Darlington Civic Theatre on Thursday, September 12. The show is for adults only and tickets, costing £13 and £15, are available from the box office on (01325) 486555.

HEART MEETING: The next meeting of Darlington Coronary Support Group, at the Dolphin Centre on Tuesday, September 17, will feature a talk and slideshow on the coast-to-coast walk, by Colin Flynn, beginning at 7.30pm