Band opens concert series: The North-East Concert Band opens a new season of Music in the Park, in the grounds of the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, on Sunday, from 2.30pm.

They are the first of ten bands to perform weekly in the outdoor series of concerts, through until August 18. Admission is free.

CATHEDRAL SERVICE: County Durham's St John Ambulance is holding a re-dedication service in Durham Cathedral on Sunday followed by a service medal presentation. People attending the service should be seated by 1.45pm.

DONOR SESSION: A blood donor session will be held on Sunday between 1.30pm and 4.30pm at the St Mary's Centre, Church Chare, Whickham, Gateshead.

EXTENSION PLAN: Durham City Council is being asked to grant planning permission for a single-storey pitched roof extension to be built at the side of a house at The Meadows in West Rainton.

BELLY DANCING: A six-week course in belly dancing and other Middle-East folk dances starts today at the Chester-le-Street Community Association's centre, Newcastle Bank, between 2.45pm and 4pm. The course costs £18. For details and enrolment call at the centre.

SUMMER STROLL: Sunderland countryside rangers will lead a midsummer stroll along the railway path between Ryhope and Seaton on Sunday. It starts at 11am at the Railway Inn pub, off Ryhope's village green.

HOME PLAN: Durham City Council is being asked to grant outline planning permission for a detached dwelling and garage to be built north of the Alldays supermarket in Petterson Dale, Coxhoe.

SUMMER FAIR: St Benet's Primary School, Urpeth Grange, Ouston, is holding a summer fair on Sunday, between 2pm and 5.30pm. Admission is free and attractions include face painting, a bouncy castle, magician, raffle, tombola and pony rides.

COUNTRY WALK: Voluntary countryside ranger Dara Dastur will lead an 8m Hesleden to Hart circular walk on Tuesday. It starts at 10.30am from opposite the cemetery in Hesleden Village. The walk, one of a series organised by Durham County Council, costs £2 for adults, £1 for concessions.

SUNFLOWER DISPLAY: Some of the 1,500 local schoolchildren who have each produced a sunflower to plant in Durham Cathedral took part in planting by the Great West Door. The display aims to raise awareness of the National Hospice Sunflower Appeal.

COMMUNITY SHOW: An extravaganza of words, music and drama about the past, present and future, created by groups of people aged 50 and above from Gateshead, South Shields and Newcastle, will take place at Caedmon Hall, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, on Monday at 2.30pm. Tickets for the event, called Stem Root Stone are available free from Gateshead Central Library's box office on (0191) 477 3478