CHORAL CONCERT: Billingham Choral Society will appear in concert at St Paul’s Newtown Church, Bishopton Road, Stockton, on Friday, (October 4) at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5 each will be available on the door.

STEWART PARK: Improvements to Stewart Park for visitors and the native wildlife are now underway in Middlesbrough. The Wet Meadow project will help solve flooding and drainage problems and a boardwalk with dipping platforms will also be introduced.

DOG CHECKS: Free health checks for dogs will be on offer again next week when the PDSA charity visits Hartlepool. The checks will be carried out by a PDSA veterinary nurse and will cover dogs’ body condition and weight as well as their teeth, gums, eyes, ears, coat conditions and general fitness. The nurses will also be happy to give out free pet care advice. The checks will be on offer from 9am to 4pm next Tuesday, October 8, at Rift House Recreation Ground, off Kingsley Avenue; on Wednesday, October 9 at Seaton Carew coach park; on Thursday, October 10 at Thornhill Allotments, and next Friday, October 11 at Summerhill. Free dog micro-chipping will also be available at each venue.

CRAFT FAIR: A Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair is being held at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough this Sunday, (October 6), from 11am to 3pm. It will feature pork cuts from Burton’s Bangers, plants from Rainbow Nursery, ginger cakes from the Gingerbread Mam and fresh fish from Picknets fishmongers. Admission is free, and visitors can also browse a range of crafts inside the Bolckow Visitor Centre.