Play promise for village

A FORGOTTEN village looks likely to get a much wanted play area. People living in Dunsdale, near Guisborough, complained to Guisborough Town Council that they were forgotten about while four areas in the town were getting new play areas courtesy of the town council. Landowner Lord Zetland has now told residents that he will provide a piece of land when plans for a new racecourse in the area are advanced further.

Gas company Transco has also said it will make a contribution towards providing play equipment.

Money raised: A group of five police officers from Redcar ran the Great North Run to raise money for an east Cleveland charity as a tribute to a colleague. PC Mick Gallacher has Multiple Sclerosis and his colleagues raised £718.50 for the MS Therapy Centre in South Bank, Teesside, because they could see how the crippling muscle wasting disease affected him. PC Gallacher described their actions as: "Marvellous, great, superb. It is a fantastic contribution to a great centre which provides good therapy for MS sufferers in the area."

College graduation: Caps and gowns were the order of the day when more than 100 students from Redcar and Cleveland College graduated in a special ceremony last night. Presentations were made to graduates from a variety of courses, including 16 to 19-year-olds and mature students. The presentations were made by Paul Booth, chairman of the governors.

CARD CHECK: A Middlesbrough company is shunning corporate Christmas cards this year in favour of making a donation to two local charities. HBS - the private sector partner which runs part of Middlesbrough Borough Council - is giving £200 to the Mayor of Middlesbrough's chosen charities: the Parkinson's Disease Society and the Neo-natal Abstinence Syndrome organisation, which provides help for babies born dependent on drugs.

SHARP WATCH: Security is being stepped up in Middlesbrough's town centre car parks and surrounding streets. Borough councillor Robert Smith, head of community safety, said extra patrols were being provided at all council-operated car parks."What we are really concerned about are Christmas shoppers who leave purchases in full view of potential thieves," he said.

POLICE HOMES: A police station is to be converted into homes. Planning permission has been granted for Guisborough police station to be developed into nine two and three-bedroomed flats and one detached cottage. Work is expected to be completed by early summer. The old police house is the new police station.