Festive treats left at bus stop

SOME youngsters may have to go without their Christmas presents tomorrow.

Two carrier bags containing gifts from Darlington's Argos, Athena, HMV and Early Learning Centre stores were found on steps at a bus stop in the town's Woodlands Road, at the entrance to the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, late on Saturday night. Receipts for the goods, in Argos and Athena carrier bags, showed that they had been paid for in cash on Saturday afternoon. The items have been handed in to Darlington police station, which can be contacted on (01325) 467681.

ON MOVE: Darlington Council for Voluntary Service will be moving premises in January while renovation work is carried out. Staff will be based at Pease House, Bull Wynd, for up to five months. The telephone numbers and address will stay the same.

DROP IN: Tom Keogan and Linda Vevers are holding regular drop-in and advice sessions for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. They are held every Tuesday, between 1pm and 3pm, at Darlington Association on Disability, Horsemarket, and every Thursday, between 1pm and 3pm, at Central House, Gladstone Street

DISABLED INITIATIVE: A new plan for developing opportunities for disabled people and their carers to return to work has been launched. Anyone wanting to be involved in improving opportunities should contact Louise or Sue at User Involvement Partnership, on (01325) 254662.

FESTIVE SERVICE: A Christingle service will be held this afternoon at St Andrew's Church, Haughton Green, Darlington, at 3.30pm. A midnight communion will also be held there today, at 11pm.

HISTORY MEETING: Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists' Field Club will hold a meeting on January 8, at the Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington. Dennis Rooney will give a talk called The Durham Coast - Past, Present and Future.

CHURCH SERVICES: Four churches in Newton Aycliffe will join together to hold a service on January 6, at 9.15am. St Clare's, St Francis, St Elizabeth and St Andrew's will hold a Sung Eucharist service at St Clare's.

FAMILY PLAY: Witham Hall, in Barnard Castle, will be staging a mystical tale for families on January 10, at 7pm. The Singing Ringing Tree takes inspiration from the classic East German folk tale that became a cult TV series in the 1960s. Tickets cost £4, and £3 concessions.

HOOLIGANS' SHOW: The award-winning youth drama group, Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans, will be performing a series of six original short plays, called One Blessed Summer, at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, from January 16 to January 18.