BARNARDO'S children, members of Age Concern and patients from St Teresa's Hospice will enjoy free trips to the theatre.

The Barnardo's children will see a matinee performance of Danny Champion of the World, on Saturday, and a group from Darlington Borough Council's Children's Services will watch Noise Ensemble next month.

Age Concern members will see Dad's Army, and hospice patients, from Darlington, will watch Catherine Cookson's Fifteen Streets, next month.

All guests will be treated to a buffet and interval drinks.

Regional law firm Blackett Hart and Pratt LLP is hosting the trips, with match funding from Arts and Business North-East, an organisation which builds partnerships between business and the arts.

Wendy Shepherd, children service manager at Barnardo's, said: "Some of our young people are from disadvantaged areas and wouldn't normally get the chance to do this, so they are very excited."

Rachel Baker, former trusts and sponsorship manager at St Teresa's Hospice, said the theatre trip would be open to day-care clients, as well as hospice volunteers.

"Day care at the hospice is a very happy, social place and going to the theatre will extend that into a social evening out for our guests," she said. "We sometimes have performers at St Teresa's, but it will be lovely for guests to go to the theatre."