RURAL CRAFTS: Ploughmen will be taking part in a ploughing match using heavy horses on Saturday, August 24, at Beamish Museum.

COFFEE MORNING: West Pelton Methodist Church is to hold a coffee morning in Chester-le- Street Methodist Church, on Saturday, August 24.

COACHING SESSIONS: The leisure department has organised coaching sessions in athletics, basketball, football and tennis, between Monday and Friday, with a trip to Lightwater Valley, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday. For more details, call 0191-387 2124.

TRUST MEETING: The Waldridge Millennium Green trust is holding its annual general meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, in the Hermitage School, when a guest speaker from the Countryside Agency will address them.

ADVICE SURGERY: A housing benefit officer will be available for advice from 9am to 12.30pm on Thursdays in Birtley Library.

CRAFT TIME: Craft sessions for children over seven are being held from 10am to 11am on Fridays, August 16, 23 and 30, in Chester-le-Street library.

NEW QUIZ: The Queen's Head in Birtley has started a prize quiz on Mondays at 9pm. Entry costs £1.

FUN SESSIONS: Chester-le-Street Sure Start holds Craft 'n' Play from 1pm on Tuesday, August 20, at Waldridge Road.

Heather will hold Family Crafts from 1pm to 3pm, in Pelton Community Centre, and there will be a Bookstart Club Storytime from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the Library, both on Wednesday, August 21.

A children's show with Olly is starting at 1.30pm on Thursday, August 22, in Bullion Hall.

Further information is available on 0191-387 5907.

FAMILY FUN: A family barbecue is being held at the Queen's Head, Birtley, from 2pm on Saturday, August 24.

MUSIC NIGHT: Mad Tommy T from Idols is guesting at the Falcon in Hilda Park on Saturday, August 24.

RESEARCH FUNDS: Sequence dancers raised £425 for Macmillan Cancer Research at The Barley Mow village hall on Friday.

LEISURE EVENTS: Derwentside Leisure Services have arranged a visit to Flamingo Park on Thursday, August 22.

There will be a tennis tournament at Shotley Bridge Tennis Club on Wednesday, and a mini cricket tournament on Friday, August 23, at Leadgate Cricket Club.

Larks in the Park are being held at Consett Heritage Park on Wednesday, and Allensford Park on Friday, August 23.

More details are available from (01207) 218014.

FUN FOR KIDS: Stanley Sure Start is holding bumps and babies at 10am on Monday, followed by Film Time: The Jungle Book, at 2pm.

The parents and toddlers group will meet at 10am on Wednesday, with Creep Crawlers at 10am and Storytime at 1.30pm on Thursday, August 22.

For more information (01207) 232048.

CANCER FUNDS: The concert of sacred songs held in St Patrick's RC Church,Consett, raised £502 for Macmillan Cancer Research.

SUMMER FAIR: £2,502.45 was raised at the summer fair and ticket draw held by Willow Burn Hospice.

ADVICE DROP-IN: Stanley Sure Start holds welfare benefits and money advice sessions until noon on Tuesdays, and between 1pm and 4.30pm. on Wednesdays.

CAR PARK KARAOKE: Asda in Stanley is staging a karaoke on Saturday in the store's car park.

YOUTH LEAFLET: Youth worker Peter Butler can supply copies of the leaflet, produced by youngsters at Burnside Research Centre, on the work of the youth project Groundwork.

KIDS' DISCO: A kids' disco is held from 6pm to 10pm each Monday in Monty's Bar at Stanley. Tickets are £2.