Volunteers' help needed

Volunteers are needed to help the work of the Derwentside Young Carers group. People in their late 40s and 50s are especially wanted.

The organisation takes groups of 11 to 13-year-olds and youngsters aged 13 and upwards for activities throughout the year, as well as half-day outings during the summer. Volunteers would be asked to give about three or four hours once or twice a month. To help call (01207) 283585.

ANNUAL MEETING: The Shadforth Village Community Association will hold its annual meeting at 7.30pm tomorrow, in the village hall. There will also be a ceilidh on March 16 with music by Northumberland Fayre. Tickets, priced at £6, are available by calling 0191-372 0348.

WARD SURGERIES: Easington District councillors Joe Goodwin, Frank Shaw and Charles Walker will hold a ward surgery in the Dawdon Miners' Welfare Centre, Mount Stewart Street, Dawdon, on Monday, March 18, from 6pm to 7pm. They can be contacted by telephone on 0191-581 3850, 581 3829 or 581 2350.

MORE ROOM: Durham City Council is seeking planning permission for a two-storey pitched roof extension over a garage, and a single-storey extension at the side, to be built at a house in Front Street, Low Pittington.

PARTY'S WEBSITE: Liberal Democrats in Durham City have launched their own website - www.durhamlib dems.org.uk - to keep people in the city informed about the party's activities and its 17 parish, city and county councillors.

PET SMILE: The Dunelm Veterinary Group in Gilesgate, Durham, is offering free dental checks for cats and dogs in March. For further details call 0191-384 7609.

GENTLE SOUNDS: An acoustic roots music night will be held tomorrow night in the Stable Bar at the Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, near Stanley. For further details call the pub on 0191-370 0237.

MEASURES WORKING: Speed measures introduced in Portsmouth Road, Pennywell, to curb speeding drivers are working. Police say there has been a 100 per cent drop in serious accidents.

RENT RISE: Tenants of the Sunderland Housing Group, the company that took over Sunderland City Council's housing stock, face an average rent rise of £1.20 a week from April 1.

HOUSE BLAZE: Fire officers were called to Thorpe Street, in Easington Colliery just before 3am yesterday to a report of a living room fire. Nobody was injured in the blaze