A THOUSAND energy-efficient light bulbs will be given away in Darlington over the weekend as part of an environmental roadshow.

The roadshow, taking place today in the market place and tomorrow at Safeway's car park, will be highlighting ways in which people can help the environment while they are at home, at work or school, out shopping or travelling.

Northern Electric has given Darlington Borough Council the bulbs to give to visitors at the roadshow.

Five hundred will be available to pensioners on production of their pension book or other identification and the remainder to anyone answering questions on a home energy survey.

The winner of a competition run by The Northern Echo in conjunction with Darlington council to find the most environmentally-friendly people in Darlington will also be announced, with the editor of the newspaper, Peter Barron, presenting the prizes.

The roadshow is designed to be fun. There will be a large exhibition, with half of it laid out as a street, looking at alternatives to the car for short journeys in a variety of interactive games and displays.

The other half will be set inside a house with a living-room, kitchen and garden area, and covers ways of saving on energy, water and waste production.

Everyone who visits the roadshow will have the chance to win a top of the range Hotpoint washing machine.