HYGIENE FINES: The owner of a Chinese takeaway has been ordered to pay £4,000 in fines after being prosecuted by environmental health officers.

Jinuy Li (CORRECT) of Peel Street, Thornaby, who operates Hui on Norton Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations when he was prosecuted by Stockton Council.

Food Hygiene officers said the premises were dirty and raw meat was stored incorrectly.

In mitigation Mr Li told food hygiene officers that standards were lower than usual when he was inspected due to a delivery arriving that day.

Anyone wanting to check the results of food hygiene inspections can visit www.food.gov.uk/ratings where premises are given star ratings.

CAR BOOT: The 100-acre Summerhill country park in Hartlepool is hosting a car boot sale this Saturday (May 25) from 10am to 1pm. There is a charge of £8 for sellers in cars and £12 for those with vans, while admission is free for buyers.

This weekend’s sale is the second in a series to be held over the spring and summer, with sales taking place on the last Saturday of every month until September.

Selling pitches which will be allocated on a first come-first served basis, must be booked and paid for in advance at Summerhill. Call (01429) 284584 for more information.

TABLE TENNIS: A table tennis table has been installed in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square so local people can enjoy the sport in the great outdoors.

The new table, which was donated by Ormesby Table Tennis Club and equipment suppliers Tees Sport, is located next to the Big Screen and fountain.

The table is free to use and bats and balls will be available from Tuesday, May 28 from the Central Library.

As part of the Ping national table tennis campaign, two outdoor tables have already been installed in Stewart Park and Albert Park.

BIRD RESERVE: A new bird reserve at Greatham Creek on the Tees Estuary is to be known as the Saltern Wetlands.

The name was chosen from a shortlist of three by local people who attended a public drop-in event at Greatham Community Centre last week, arranged by the Environment Agency to show locals what ancient artefacts archaeologists had discovered while excavating the site, which has a long history of salt production. A Saltern is the name for an earthwork mound associated with salt-making.There are four on the site.

TRIATHLON EVENT: Athletes are being invited to enter the Big Lime Triathlon in Hartlepool on September 22. The event includes a 750m open-water swim, a 20kn cycle ride and a 5km run. Hartlepool Borough Council is organising the event with backing from Limestone Landscapes, a Heritage Lottery Fund-supported project to preserve the Durham magnesian limestone plateau, of which Hartlepool is a part.

The swim will take place in the marina, the cycle course will incorporate Seaton Carew sea front and the run will be around Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, Jackson’s Landing and the marina.

Athletes can register to take part in the triathlon on-line at www.trihard.co.uk and entry costs £27 for members of British Triathlon or £30 for non-members.

Anyone wanting further information can contact Gemma Ptak by telephoning 01429-523441/284174 or e-mailing gemma.ptak@hartlepool.gov.uk