A COMMUNITY planning event will take place today on the field at Stephenson Way Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, between 11am and 4.30pm.

It offers an opportunity for residents of Malham Crescent, Williamfield, the Dales, Linden Place, Rowan Place, Elmfield Place, Beechfield, Oakfield and Ashfield, to have their say on how to improve the housing and the environment of the area. The event will have a fun element, with a bouncy castle, face painting and a prize draw, plus a children's art competition and celebrity guest Ben from Byker Grove.

RAMBLERS: Crook and Weardale Ramblers are holding a nine-mile walk in Wensleydale on Sunday. Meet at Crook Market Place at 9am, or Aysgarth Falls tourist information car park at 10.30am.

CONTRACT DEAL: Darlington Borough Council has agreed to waive contract procedures to allow the National Children's Home to continue its work with the authority until 2005.

Sports awards: Bill Beswick, assistant manager of Middlesbrough Football Club, presented awards at Sedgefield Community College's sports presentation evening at the Hardwick Hall Hotel. Helen Pighills and Marc Hindson won awards for outstanding commitment. Ross Parkin and Natalie Owens were sports personalities of the year.

OPEN-AIR SERVICE: A joint open-air church service will be held on Piercebridge village green, at 2.30pm, on Sunday, organised by St Mary's Church and village's Methodist Chapel.

FAMILY WALK: Bob the Builder will open a woodland and pushchair walk at Killhope Lead Mining Museum, Weardale, on Sunday, at 1.30pm.

MACHINES RAIDED: Thieves emptied fruit machines in Cooper's Arcade, Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, early yesterday. They are believed to have driven off in a red Rover car at about 1.35am.

GOOD WALKERS: 135 children from Peases West Primary School, near Crook, were quick to clock up 100 minutes in the Walking for Health Ton-Up Challenge promoted by Wear Valley District Council. They are among 80 people aiming to walk, jog or run 100 miles or 100 laps of the Peases West athletics track by September 20. The challenge takes place at the track every weekday, from noon to 2pm, and Monday to Thursday, from 6.15pm. Contact Lynn Wilson on (01388) 765555 for details.

STAMPS SUCCESS: Pupils at Barnard Castle CE Primary School have collected 25,000 stamps to raise funds for the Butterwick Hospice's Make-a-Million appeal.

DEGREE SUCCESS: Paul Clement, 44, from Beaumont Close, Woodham, Newton Aycliffe, has been awarded a BSc (Hons) in computing for business from Northumbria University. He also won £100 from Newcastle company Imass for the best final year individual project in business computing.