A HOTEL is preparing to celebrate all things American on July 4. Seaham Hall Hotel has extended an invitation to everyone to help it mark American Independence Day. The festivities will be held between 7.30pm and 11pm when food and drink from the US will be dished up. Guests will be offered everything from Budweiser beer, strawberry daquiris and margaritas to accompany a barbecue with hog roast. As well as the American-style food and drink, there will be music and dancing, a fashion show and a Harley Davidson drive. An auction is also being planned, with all proceeds going to the New York Disaster Fund. Dress is casual and tickets, costing £35, can be booked by telephoning 0191-516 1400.

ENTRIES SOUGHT: Peterlee Town Council is seeking entries for its annual competition for domestic and allotment gardens. The authority has also called on neighbours to nominate gardens they feel are worthy of recognition. Prize winners will be invited to a reception at Shotton Hall Banqueting Suite to receive their awards on August 14. Judging will take place from July 25 and experts will be on hand at the presentation ceremony to give tips and advice on improving gardens. For more details, call the Tourist Information Centre in Peterlee on 0191-5864450.

CHARITY BOOST: The Consett Theatre Workshop Junior Group has raised £300 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). The cash was raised during the group's highly successful musical production of The Melody Lingers On at the Consett Empire. Cry helps youngsters who have heart conditions. Those attending the theatre workshop show gave donations to the charity in return for a programme. "We had good attendance for each show and the youngsters really enjoyed it, even if they were really tired at the end of it," said Margaret Darroch, theatre workshop manager.

POLICE DRAMA: The police are looking for volunteers to take part in realistic role plays to help in the training of probationers. The volunteers would take part in confrontational or emergency scenes which come up in the working life of policemen and women. The next training day will be held at Aykley Heads Police Training Centre, in Durham, on July 17. Call Kate Jones on 0191-384 1360 to take part.

FUNERAL HOME: A dedication service was held to mark the opening of a £200,000 funeral home. The development at Wheatley Hill has been completed by the North-Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's funeral group. Following the service, members of the local clergy blessed the funeral home's four chapels of rest. The Quilstyle Road business is the latest venture of the Co-op's funeral group, which has 85 branches in the North.