YOUNGSTERS from three Gateshead schools have helped to design a sculpture for an estate's new green. The green was created on a rubbish-strewn field on the Springwell estate and features a 6ft Roman wheel and images of water. Pupils at Fell Dyke Community Primary, Roman Road and Hill Top primary schools helped to design the work with sculptor William Pym, of Corbridge. The £100,000 project received funding from the Millennium Commission, Countryside Agency, Bass Breweries and the Thompsons, of Prudhoe, Environmental Trust.

GALLERY DATES: Rhythm and Blues band Alive and Kicking will be performing at The Gallery, Chester Moor, near Chester-le-Street, on Friday. Fist, featuring former Thin Lizzy drummer Harry Hills, will be performing at the venue on Sunday. Both gigs start at 8.30pm and admission is £2.

DONOR SESSIONS: Blood donor sessions will be held today at the Civic Hall, Regent Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, from 2.30pm to 7pm and at St Aloysius' Centre, on the corner of Argyle Street and Coquet Street, Hebburn, between the same times.

OFFICE PLAN: Derwentside District Council's development control committee will be recommended on Thursday to approve plans to convert a unit in the former Co-Op buildings, Front Street, Burnopfield, into a publishing and recruitment office for the Fresh Start Agency.

COMPUTER SKILLS: A six-week course for people how want to learn basic computer skills will be run by the Gilesgate Community Association, in Durham, starting next Monday, between 2pm and 3pm. The course is free. Places can be booked by calling 0191-386 1933.