A ROMAN statue, which forms the centrepiece of one of England's most important ancient sculpture collections, is expected to fetch up to £3m at auction today.

The Jenkins Venus, which was an original part of the Barberini collection, is being sold to finance restoration work at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire. It is the first piece to be offered for sale from the collection, which is owned by the Compton family. The marble statue goes under the hammer at Christie's, in London, later today.

SUMMER BALL: The British Horse Society is holding a summer ball, including entertainment, dancing and food, at Beamish Hall on Friday. Tickets, priced at £37, are available from Pam Ainsworth on 07775 603486, Muriel Allan, on (01207) 270 305, or by sending a cheque to BHS Events, Priestfield, Burnopfield, Newcastle, NE16 6AT.

COLLEGE MILESTONE: Ampleforth College and its abbey, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, has reached an annual turnover of £10m. The abbot, Father Timothy Wright, said celebration events are being held this year to mark the milestone, including a service at Middlesbrough Cathedral. The abbey has about 90 monks, aged between 23 and 90. The college has 510 students, including 20 girls in the sixth form, and the numbers are expected to rise in September. The college has a £9m appeal to build educational complexes and has raised £7m.

SKILLS NEEDED: School leavers in the North-East should consider a career in the construction industry, says a college. The National Construction College said the region's construction industry needs an extra 12,500 people to meet the demand and to join the industry by 2006. Many of the UK's leading civil engineering and construction companies are keen to recruit youngsters from the North-East, provide them with work from day one of their Modern Apprenticeship and pay for training worth up to £25,000 at the National Construction College.

BRIDGE HONOURED: The Gateshead Millennium Bridge has been honoured for its high architectural standards and contribution to the environment. The bridge was named as one of 58 finalists for the Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling Prize. The announcement was made at a dinner during the institute's conference in Birmingham.

EVENSONG EVENT: The Durham and Wearside branch of Help the Aged is holding evensong with prayers for the elderly on Sunday, June 23, at 3.30pm in Durham Cathedral. For more details, call (01325) 313924.

HAY FEVER: Noel Coward's Hay Fever, comes to the region next week. The production, by the Oxford Stage Company, features Katharine Barker, who played Dolly in TV soap Emmerdale; Oliver Boot, who was Andy in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps; Sally Bretton, who played Donna in The Office; and John Dougall, who was Fraser in Monarch of the Glen. It runs at the Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, from Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets are available from the box office on 0870 905 5060