Unpaid rent to be written off

Darlington Borough Council is meeting tomorrow to decide whether £129,291 of unpaid rent by its tenants can be written off.

The council will look at 121 cases where more than £500 in rent is owned. Reasons including tenants dying or moving and not giving forwarding addresses have resulted in the unpaid rent. More than £55,000 has already been recovered from people who owed the council rent in the past year. It is being recommended that the remaining money is written off.

SUPPORTERS MEET: The Darlington and district branch of the Leeds United Supporters' Club is holding a branch meeting at the Oak Tree pub, Newton Aycliffe, on March 24, at 7.30pm. For details contact Kim Rowling on (01325) 312127.

CHURCH RETREAT: People are being invited to join a church retreat in Kent in July. Canon David Hinge, of St James the Great Church, Darlington, will be leading the retreat. For details call (01325) 732002.

FLAT BLAZE: Firefighters were called to a fire at a flat above The Brewer's Droop pub, in Willington, at 5.20am yesterday after people were reported trapped. The inhabitants escaped safely, but the kitchen was severely damaged.

CASTLE RAMBLE: Crook and Weardale Ramblers will embark on a seven-mile walk around Lumley Castle next Sunday. The group leaves Crook Market Place at 9.30am, or participants can join the group at the totem pole, near Great Lumley. For details call Ses Baldwin, on (01388) 608979.

HISTORY GROUP: Sedgefield Family History Group will hear a talk by Ann Fell, called Looking for Annie Vera, at its meeting in Ceddesfeld Hall next Monday, at 7.45pm.

DIABETICS MEETING: A meeting for diabetics will take place at Cumbria Lodge, on the Henknowle estate, Bishop Auckland, at 1.30pm on Wednesday. Guest speaker will be Kathryn Webster, from the Primary Care Group.

MUSIC HALL: The Winston Follies will perform old-time music hall at Winston Village Hall, on Wednesday, at 7.30pm. For tickets call (01325) 732104.

BLOOD DONORS: A blood donor session is being held at Willington Methodist Church, in Lydia Street, on Wednesday, from 3pm to 7pm.

TABLE SALE: St Catherine's Community Centre, in Crook Market Place, is hosting a table-top sale on Saturday, from 9.30am to noon. Tables costing £5 can be booked on (01388) 766706.

WRECKING SPREE: A trail of damage was left by vandals who targeted a dozen cars parked in neighbouring streets in St Helen Auckland. Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the damage, which took place early on Saturday.

Police say three men have been charged in connection with the incidents.

Witnessed are asked to contact Detective Constable Nigel Crampton, on (01388) 603566.