BUSINESSES are joining a drive to provide smoke-free areas on their premises.

More than 150 firms have signed up to the latest edition of a guide by Sunderland City Council and the city's Teaching Primary Care Trust. It lists hotels, restaurants, sports centres and other public buildings that restrict smoking to certain areas or ban it altogether. Senior council environmental health officer Susan Goodchild said: "The guide is intended for people who don't want to risk their health being affected by passive smoking or who simply don't wanted to be irritated by other people's smoke."

HOLIDAY GERMAN: An intermediate course in conversational German for people thinking of taking a holiday in Germany will be held at the Chester-le-Street Community Association's centre, Newcastle Bank, on Fridays, between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, starting on September 13. It costs £10 per four sessions. To book call 0191-388 4752.

WEAR WALK: Historian David Butler will lead a two-and-a-half-mile walk, called Bridges and Mills - Crossing and Using the River Wear in Durham City - tomorrow. The walk starts at 6.30pm, from Market Place, and costs £2 for adults or £1 for concessions.

MASK MAKING: Marvellous Masks, the latest in a series of summer holiday craft sessions for youngsters aged four to 12, will be held at Wingate Library between 2pm and 3.30pm on Thursday. The session is free. Children under six must be accompanied by an adult. For details call (01429) 838339.

TEEN GROUP: Jezreel Teen Power, a group for 11 to 15-year-olds, meets on Fridays between 7.30pm and 9pm at the Methodist Chapel in Front Street, Dipton, near Stanley. For details call (01207) 230977.

QUARRY WALK: A two-mile walk around the reclaimed quarry at Quarrington Hill will be held on Sunday as part of the Durham and Chester-le-Street Lifestyle Initiative's Footsteps to Fitness programme. It will start at the lay-by on the B6291, opposite Cassop School, at 11am. The walk is free.

VILLAGE ADVICE: A village outreach advice session will be held by Durham Citizens Advice Bureau today at New Brancepeth Village Hall between 11am and noon.

SALSA NIGHT: The Gallery music venue at Chester Moor, near Chester-le-Street, is holding salsa classes tonight and a buskers' night tomorrow. Both start at 8pm. For details call 0191-388 4588.

STEAM UP: The Tanfield Railway, near Stanley, will run two trains on Sunday and Monday between 11am and 4.30pm. For details call 0191-388 7545 or log on to www.tanfield-railway.freeserve.co.uk

PLAYERS NEEDED: A club for young footballers is appealing for players. Blackfyne FC, in Consett, County Durham, is looking to boost its squad for its under-15 team. The youngsters train on Tuesday and Friday nights, 6pm to 7.30pm. Call Kevin O'Rourke on (01207) 503641, for details.