Cabinet Office Minister Lord Macdonald of Tradeston, better known as former journalist and broadcaster Gus Macdonald, will give the fourth annual education lecture at Chester-le-Street's Hermitage School, on Friday, July 12, from 4.45pm to 5.45pm.

Tickets are free, but are available on a first come, first served basis from the school, a specialist technology teaching centre, in Waldridge Lane, on 0191-388 7161.

TAFFY'S TALES: Storyteller Taffy Thomas takes centre stage with his story coat at a coffee morning at the community centre in Bearpark, near Durham, on Thursday. Coffee, tea and cakes will be served from 11am, with storytime from 11.30am. Admission is £1, but is free for children.

VALLEY FRIENDS: A support group is being set up for local people, parents and ex-pupils of Deerness Valley School, at Ushaw Moor. The first meeting of The Friends of Deerness Valley School will take place at the school, on Tuesday, at 6pm.

Beamish walk: A four-mile walk through woodland at Beamish will be held tomorrow as part of the Footsteps to Fitness programme run by the Durham and Chester-le-Street Lifestyle Initiative. The walk is free and starts at 11am in the car park opposite the View Tops, formerly Beamish Club.

OAP home: Chester-le-Street District Council has approved plans by Gainford Care to build a 55-bed residential care home for the elderly on land at St Benet's Hall, Institute East, Perkinsville.

Players wanted: Newton Hall Junior Football Club in Durham is on the look-out for new players in Year Three to play in a local mini-league. Anyone interested should call T Thompson on 0191-386 6825.

Holiday home: Durham City Council is being asked to grant permission for outbuildings to be converted into a holiday cottage at Littletown Lodge, Front Street, Littletown.

Rock night: Snake Oil, who play American roots rock by artists such as Ry Cooder, will perform tonight in the Stable Bar at the Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, near Stanley. Doors open at 8.30pm and admission is £2.

Photo meeting: Durham Photographic Society meets on Thursday night at 7.30pm in The Shakespeare Hall, North Road, Durham. Admission is free.

School fair: Nevilles Cross Primary School Parent Teacher Association is holding a summer fair at the school, in Relly Path, Nevilles Cross, next Saturday, June 22, from 1pm to 4pm. Admission is free for pre-school youngsters and attractions include birds of prey and a balloon race.

Extension plan: Durham City Council is being asked to grant permission for a two storey and single-storey extension to be built at the back of a house in Summerville, Durham.

Party time: Sunderland's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is holding a teddy bears' picnic in Mowbray Park for 350 children to mark National Childcare Month on Tuesday