AN East Durham school has clocked up a record it believes is unique in the area. Shotton Hall School, Peterlee, revealed that it has four members of staff who have all given more than 30 years of uninterrupted service.

Mike Metcalfe, Brian Holmes, Barry Smith and Ken Taylor have topped 125 years of teaching at the school between them. To mark the achievement, the school is holding a celebratory evening and reunion at the Hallgarth Manor Hotel, Pittington, on Saturday, July 6. To make the evening complete the school is hoping to track down former colleagues of the quartet. Staff say they would be delighted if anyone who worked with the four could attend. To contact the school call 0191-586 2580.

COFFEE MORNING: Black-hill Baptist Church will hold a coffee morning with a cake stall from 10.30am to noon, on Saturday. Proceeds will go to the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.

REFUSAL LOOMS: Plans for the erection of two dwellings to the rear of 30 and 32 Broadwood View, Shotley Bridge, are likely to be rejected by Derwentside district councillors. The authority's development control committee, which meets on Friday, will be urged by planning officers to refuse permission on the grounds of loss of amenity to neighbouring properties.

MEETING INVITE: The annual meeting of the Derwentside Citizens' Advice Bureau will be held in the reception suite of Consett Civic Centre, at 7pm, on Thursday, June 13. The public are invited to attend.

OPEN DAY: West Rainton Housing Action Group will hold an open day at Jubilee Hall, West Rainton, today, to highlight the layout and design for the proposed 308 dwellings which Wimpey and Bryant Homes have applied to build in the village. Also on display will be plans for a traffic lights scheme, as well as information on the campaign against the proposed development.

NEW MAYOR: Councillor Peter Gibson, of Silksworth, has become Mayor of Sunderland. Coun Gibson, who worked in the mining industry for 37 years, still lives in the area he grew up in. One of his first duties will be to represent the city as a guest of its adopted ship, HMS Ocean, as it takes part in exercises off Spain. His two adopted charities are the Children's Hope Foundation and Sunningdale School.

MUSICAL TRIBUTE: Bow-burn Making Music Project will present the Sizzling Superstars Spectacular at Bowburn Community Association Hall, at 7pm, on Wednesday, June 12. The evening features tributes to artists from the 1960s to the present day and is in aid of Martin House Hospice for Teenagers. Tickets are £2 for adults and £1 for under-18s. They are available from Bev Phillips on 0191-377 3449, or from the Durham Tourist Information Office.

HANK IN TOWN: The Empire Theatre, Sunderland, will stage the master of the guitar, Hank Marvin, at 7.30pm, on Saturday. Ticket prices range from £13 to £17.