A ROAD will be closed from next week to allow bridge-strengthening work to be carried out.

Work will start on the C11, at Wardles Bridge, Edmondsley, near Chester-le-Street, to bring it into line with recent safety standards and enable it to carry 40-tonne lorries. Service Direct, Durham County council's construction organisation, will carry out the contract. The work, which is expected to last for eight weeks, is part of an ongoing programme to enable the county's bridges to carry European lorries. A diversion will be in place.

VILLAGE FAIR: Sherburn Hill Community Association is holding a village fair on Saturday, June 1, between 11am and 3pm, to coincide with the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The association is appealing for donations of prizes for a draw. Anyone who can help is asked to call (07951) 646414.

OFFICIAL OPENING: Durham County Council's scrutiny committee chairman, Councillor Brian Ebbatson, will officially open County Durham Care's new Empower 2 day centre for people with learning disabilities in Chester-le-Street next Thursday.

HELP WANTED: The Red Cross in County Durham is appealing for volunteers to help with its major fundraising event of the year, Red Cross Week, which takes place between Sunday, May 5, and Saturday, May 11. Anyone wanting to help is asked to call Bill Fox, senior fundraiser, at the Red Cross headquarters in Durham, telephone 0191-386 4367.

EXTENSION PLAN: Durham City Council is being asked to approve plans for a single-storey pitched roof extension at the rear of a house in East Atherton Street, Durham. The scheme also includes three roof lights on the rear roof slope.

FLOWER POWER: Dunelm Flower Club is holding an open meeting next Thursday in Durham Sixth Form Centre, Providence Row, when Barry Grey will give a demonstration called Let Nature Reign Supreme. Tickets, which cost £5 to non-members, must be bought in advance. Call 0191-378 1576.

Charity jump: Joan Hall, landlady of the Pemberton Arms pub, at Haswell, raised hundreds of pounds for Hartlepool and District Hospice by doing a parachute jump as a thank-you to staff for their care of her father-in-law, Dougie, who died last year.

Musical mystery: Cestria Amateur Operatic Society is staging the musical mystery, Sherlock Holmes, at Park View Community Theatre, Chester-le-Street, tonight and tomorrow night, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4.50, concessions £3.50, and are available by ringing 0191-584 7706, or 0191-388 1043.

More room: Durham City Council is being asked to grant planning permission for a single-storey pitched roof extension to a house in New Street, Sherburn.

Charity cash: A collection outside Sainsbury's supermarket at the Arnison Centre, Pity Me, on April 6 raised £402.82 for Leukaemia Research.