Mayor of Sedgefield Borough Councillor David Newell is staging a golf tournament in aid of the charities, the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe and St Dunstan's, which cares for armed services personnel blinded or injured while on active service.

The tournament will be held at the Knotty Hill Golf Complex, in Sedgefield on September 5, and Coun Newell is looking for 30 teams of four players to take part. Team entry is £170 and prizes will be presented to the winners at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield.

STREET COLLECTION: Volunteers from the British Heart Foundation's Shildon branch will hold a street collection in the town centre next Saturday. Cash raised during the day will go towards funds for equipment for Shildon surgery.

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: A meeting of Sedgefield Borough Council's scrutiny committee, covering resource management, community safety and supporting people, takes place today in the council offices, Green Lane, Spennymoor, at 10am.

NEW CLASS: Classes in figure drawing and portraiture begin at Greenfield Community and Arts Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, on Thursday, from 6.30pm. To register for the course, which will last for five weeks, ring (01325) 307147 or 379051.

OPEN DAY: Willington Freemasons will hold an open day on Saturday, June 29, 10am to 3pm, at the Lodge, 2 South Street. At 11am on the same day the lodge will present a bench to the community, to be placed on Willington High Street.

BIKE STOLEN: A red and silver Matrix Falcon mountain bike, valued at £200, was stolen from the back garden of a house in Skipton Close, Ferryhill, between noon and 5pm on Sunday.

COFFEE MORNING: The Salvation Army in Shildon will hold a coffee morning on Saturday, organised by members of the Songster Brigade, from 9.30am at the Cross Street Centre.

GALA PLANS: Kirk Merrington is gearing up for a summer gala next month. Anyone who can help on Sunday July 21, or has ideas for the event, can call Sue Woods on 07751029745.

FULL COUNCIL: A full meeting of Ferryhill Town Council will be held tomorrow in the town hall from 7pm.

VILLAGE FAIR: Witton-le-Wear village fair takes place on Sunday, at 2pm