Award for hospital staff

MATERNITY staff at Darlington Memorial Hospital have been given an award for their commitment to improving services.

The University of Teesside made the award to mark the maternity department's accreditation as a practice development unit.

Government Chief Whip and North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong presented the award.

CHURCH EVENT: St Columba's Church hall, in Clifton Avenue, Darlington, is the venue for a thrift shop on Saturday, March 23, from noon to 2pm, when items on sale will include household goods, bedding, bric-a-brac and clothing.

MUSIC CONTEST: The annual Leschiniski Music Prize competition takes place at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College on Thursday, at 7.30pm. College students will be performing a wide range of pieces and the public are welcome to attend. For details call (01325) 461315.

NEW PRODUCTION: The stage premiere of The Lavender Hill Mob, to mark 100 years of Ealing Studios, will be performed at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets, priced £9 to £16.50, are available from the box office on (01325) 486555.

CHARITY TRIP: A trip to Salisbury, the Dorset Steam Fair and Stonehenge is being organised to help Cancer Research. Tickets cost between £183 and £192, and include coach travel, three-nights' bed and breakfast accommodation in a hotel, and two days entry to the steam fair. A coach will leave Barnard Castle at 7am on August 22, but other pick-up points can be arranged. Proceeds go to the Teesdale committee of Cancer Research UK. To book contact Ian Douglas on (01833) 650638, or Burrells Coaches on (01833) 621302.

SIGHT AIDS: People with sight problems are invited to visit a mobile information centre at Spennymoor Day Centre, in Barnfield Road, on Tuesday to learn about support equipment and other assistance which is available. The centre will be open from 10am to 4pm. For details call David Wilkinson on (01388) 818982.

CRAFT FAIR: Craft workers from the region will be taking part in fair at Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield, on Sunday, from 10am to 4.30pm.

RED CROSS: Durham and Teesside branch of the British Red Cross is hosting a fundraising event at Whitworth Hall Country Park, near Spennymoor, on April 28, from 2pm to 6pm.