Visitors to Hartlepool's Summerhill centre travelled back in time at the weekend during an archaeology open day.

The event included demonstrations of 5th Century costumes, crafts and combats by living history groups Axholmr and Rent-a-Peasant. There was also an archaeological dig and story-telling sessions.

GARDEN FETE: Cakes, books, games and a tombola will be on offer at a garden fete at Sacred Heart Church, Park Road South, Middlesbrough, on July 13. The event, from noon until 3pm, aims to raise funds for repairs to the listed building. Admission is free.

BRIDGE REPAIR: Bridge parapet replacement works begin today at the A19/A1689 Wolviston Interchange. The work, being carried out by Autolink for the next four weeks, will involve off-peak lane closures between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

SUMMER CELEBRATION: Parents and children from across Teesside attended a party in the grounds of Redcar's Kirkleatham Hall Museum yesterday. The event celebrated the launch of Sure Start, an initiative aimed at giving youngsters the best start in life, and featured face-painting, magicians, a disco and an It's a Knockout contest.

TEAM AWARD: Stockton Borough Council's environmental health team has been awarded the international standard for quality assurance. The team, which deals with everything from food safety and infectious diseases to public health and animal welfare, achieved the standard for quality of service to the public and customer satisfaction.

Saltburn WALK: A guided walk around Saltburn will take place on Sunday, July 7, between 2pm and 4pm. Tickets, costing £1.50 for adults and 75p for children, are available from the town's tourist information centre. The ticket includes a tram ride and 25 per cent discount voucher for Saltburn Smugglers Heritage Centre.

POP IDOLS: Budding pop idols are being offered the chance to receive training at a summer school between July 19 and 31. The course has been arranged by Stockton and Billingham College's school of performing arts, in association with Stockton International Riverside Festival. It costs £25 and participants will get the chance to audition to appear at the festival's Pop Idol concert on July 31. For more infromation, call (01642) 865566.

ROAD CLOSURE: Kilton Lane, Brotton, will be closed for two weeks from Thursday while carriageway repairs are carried out by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.