POLICE are trying to trace a 30-year-old woman who has gone missing from her home in Middlesbrough.

Alison Jane Buckley, of Portman Street, has not been seen by friends or neighbours for several months, although her disappearance was only reported to police on Monday. She is described as white, 4ft 10in, of heavy build, with mousy brown, shoulder length, wavy hair. Anyone with information should call Sergeant Paul Baker on (01642) 303126.

Garden opens: BBC Gardener of the Year finalist Jacqueline Attrill will open her garden at Wortley Cottage, Husthwaite Village, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, on Sunday, to raise money for the village school. The event has been arranged by Friends of Husthwaite School, and is open from 1.30pm to 5pm. Teas will be served in the village hall and there will be a plant stall and quiz for the children.

College PRIZE: Newcastle College has won a gold Heist award for the further education prospectus it produces for potential students aged 15 to 18.

Reserve walk: Durham Wildlife Trust is holding a free family walk at the Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve today, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, during which walkers explore the wildlife of the rock pools and the cliffs. The event is part of the national LowTide 2002 celebration.

Donor sessions: Blood donor sessions will be held on Monday at the Victory Club and Institute, Dene View, Burnopfield, and at Vane Tempest Social Club, New Drive, Seaham, both County Durham, between 3pm and 7pm at each venue.

LUCKY WINNERS: The latest winners of the weekly Great North Air Ambulance Service Lottery are: £200 winner - ticket no. 11598, bought in Washington. £10 runners-up - tickets 09420, 11687, 10785, 11189, 09552, 10761, 10828, 08214, 11032 and 11655. To join the lottery, or to help the appeal, telephone or fax (01668) 213824.

Rail celebrations: The Friends of the National Railway Museum, in York, get their jubilee celebrations under way tonight with a dinner to mark their 25th anniversary. Chris Green, chief executive of Virgin Trains, is the principal speaker.

PROTEST talk: Labour backbencher George Galloway will speak at a meeting of Teesside Against the War on Friday, June 14. The public meeting about the Middle East conflict will take place at St Mary's Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, at 7.30pm.

Soccer fun: Pupils at Durham High School will stage a non-uniform day next Friday when they will wear football strips to celebrate the start of the World Cup. Proceeds will go to the city's St Cuthbert's Hospice.

WINDFARM PLAN: An article in yesterday's edition of The Northern Echo incorrectly stated the height of wind turbines planned for derelict land on the former Corus steelworks site in Redcar to be 30m. They would, in fact, be 100m. A planning meeting of Redcar Cleveland Borough Council to discuss the application takes place on Wednesday. We apologise for the error.