AN acidic substance which spilled on to the southbound slip road of the A1(M) at the Bowburn interchange, near Durham, was confirmed to be non-hazardous.

Three 225-litre drums were reported to be on the roadway, having spilled a small amount of a tar-like substance, shortly before 10.30am yesterday. Firefighters found the drums were empty and washed away about a litre of leocatic acid, which the Durham brigade's hazardous material officer confirmed as harmless.

JUBILEE FUN: Musical entertainment will be held in Sherburn village, near Durham City, as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. The festivities will feature Sherburn Stars Jazz Band. A fancy dress parade will leave Parkinson's Memorial Church at noon on Saturday, June 1. A fair will be held between 10am and noon, followed by children's games. A family disco will be held between 7pm and 10pm. Tickets, including supper, are for £2 adults and £1 for children. For details call 0191-372 0765.

SECOND EDITION: Following the success of a volume of potted biographies of people who made a significant contribution to County Durham before 1974, the Durham County Local History Society has published a second volume. Both books are available at £5 each, plus 70p postage and packing, from Professor Batho at The Miners' Hall, Red Hill, Durham, DH1 4BB.

WILDLIFE DISCOVERY: Families are invited to experience spring in Longacre Wood, off the A1 beside the Angel of the North, Gateshead, from 2pm to 4pm tomorrow. Meet at Lamesley Church car park. For details, call (01207) 545212.

Crowning glory: Age Concern in Easington Colliery has come up with its own way of marking the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The group is asking all those attending an event in the village's Welfare Hall on June 4 to make their own crown. The event will begin at 12.30pm with a pie and peas lunch followed by bingo, dancing, tambola and a parade of the regal headgear. Tickets cost £1.50.

GARAGE FIRE: Firefighters were called to Raby Road, Newton Hall, Durham, at 10.30pm on Thursday to a report of a garage fire. The garage was severely damaged.

INTERCHANGE OPENS: Public transport users in Peterlee, east Durham, will launch the town's bus interchange tomorrow. More than 37,000 passengers a week are expected to use the development, off Bede Way in the town centre, which will bring all services together on one site, ending the arrangement with bust stands on either side of Burnhope Way.

OPERATIC CELEBRATION: The new Mayor of Durham, Councillor Eileen Rochford, will be the guest of honour at the fifth anniversary concert for the City of Durham Light Opera, at Durham's Gala Theatre, tomorrow, at 7.30pm