Here's six of the best for the summer

12:12pm Friday 30th June 2006

When the sun shines grown-ups have a tendency to want to take a horizontal approach and soak it up.

And as we know from years of experience of the great British weather, you have to get it while you can.Kids, however, have a fundamentally different approach and the better the weather the more they seem to want to run around. Will they ever learn?So, in an effort to keep the kids entertained while the adults do their thing, heres a selection of equipment to keep them amused all on a budget of course.

FORE EVERYONE

Deluxe Golf set 9.99 from w.woolworths.co.uk

CONTAINING three shafted clubs, wood, iron and putter, this superb set will help set your mini Tiger free.

The three moveable holes mean you can recreate world famous golf holes, all in miniature of course.

Also included are a multi-coloured bag, three balls and tees.

Boredom BustersFive in One Sports Set

7.99 from www.woolworths.co.uk

A five in one sports set to appease even the hardest to please kids.

When theyre bored with lacrosse, it has velcro-padded bats for long distance catch, then bat and ball before a touch of horseshoe throwing, and then mini croquet anyone? J

UMP AROUND

Zoingo Boingo12.99 from Toys R Us

A 21st century take on the pogo stick this inflatable bounce ball has an elastic cord the craze is beginning to sweep the nation.

Loads of fun and a little daft too, adults will be tempted to join in the Tigger-like fun.

Soaraway Success

Hover Missiles9.99 twin pack from Toys R Us

These reusable inflatable toys are an impressive 5ft in length and cant fail to get a crowd gathering in the park to play.

Launch one and distances of up to 50ft can be achieved.

A New SpinChista Bats

19.99 from JJB Sports

This revolutionary idea is a huge hit in Europe and has landed here.

Play alone or in pairs and catch the ball in the central buffer before launching it off at speed.

A combination of bat and ball with catch strangely addictive.

Tasty OutcomeIce cream ball24.95 from w.firebox.com

tick rock salt and ice in one end and ice-cream mix in the other and let the kids have a kick about for around half and hour.

Then when they're bushed you can reap the rewards with your own tasty ice-cream treat. Sharing is optional.

What's reallty in a brand name?

A great-tasting bargain or a total waste of money? Supermarket own brands are a great way to save - but only if you get the right ones. Own brands might be brilliant. Or they might be disgusting. The only way to find out is to try them, by which time it's too late.

No wonder we tend to play safe and stick to well-known labels, where at least we know what we're getting.In our Tried and Tested on these pages in the past we've found some real gems under the own brand labels - Morrison baked beans, Aldi soup, Tesco champagne.

However, we also remember some disgusting moments - Tesco soup. Asda baked beans, Aldi coffee.

Now a pocket-size book gives you the lowdown on more than 2,000 items, comparing a range of supermarket own labels products with the brand leader - with some interesting results.

For example: In breakfast cereals, ASDA cornflakes, Aldi Frosted Flakes, Waitrose Bran Flakes and Sainsburys Fruit and Fibre all beat Kelloggs.

Every supermarket version - apart form the Value varieties - of Weetabix taste just as good and cost a lot less.

Aldi teabags, Kwik Save loose tea, Morrisons Earl Grey, Marks & Spencer coffee, Morrisons drinking chocolate all do well.

The book also covers bread, biscuits, dairy products, sauces, snacks and fruit juices. But the most interesting pages - and greatest savings - are in the drinks section.

Good to know, for instance, that Aldi Belgian lager is as good, but a lot cheaper, than Stella Artois or that Sainsburys Spanish lager outclasses San Miguel.Marks & Spencer Brut Champagne at £19.99 is classier than Moet and Chandon at £31.99. Morrisons gin at £9.99 for 43 per cent is stronger, better tasting and cheaper than Gordons at 37.5 per cent for £11.49.

Asda Speyside whisky (£13.78) gives Glenlivet (£22.97) a run for its money and Morrisons, Aldi, Co-op and Marks & Spencer all do better than Bells.

And with what you save, you can, of course, buy so much more.* Supermarket Own Brand Guide by Martin Isark (Mitchell Beazley £6.99).

SHOPPERS can snap up snazzy styles for summer at a new branch of value fashion store Peacocks in Durham.

The shop opened on the Dragonville retail park yesterday a 15m venture which is bringing 12 new jobs to the area.

The high street chain says award-winning womens, mens and childrens ranges are on offer.

Styles include boob tubes in polka dot, stripes and floral patterns, with prices starting at 3.

Striped T-shirts have also been selling well at Peacocks stores, as have cropped trousers costing 6 or 10 for two. There are also maxi skirts in linen for 10 and in a variety of shades.

Store manager Amanda Clark says: "We have the latest fashion must-haves at great prices."

Bouquets of the Week

Dear Sharon,

I wish to nominate the Neasham Road surgery in Darlington. I recently woke up with a severe pain in my jaw and my husband drove me to the surgery.

The receptionist saw I was in pain and immediately spoke to Dr Russ who called me in straightaway and said I was having a heart attack.

He and the nurse administered medication and sent for the ambulance.On my return home, my regular doctor, Dr Byrne, visited my home within the hour and was very kind.

Dr Russ also phoned to find out how I was.We hear so often people complaining about their GPs but my husband and I and our family are so grateful for their concern, professionalism and kindness.

I am now looking forward to making a full recovery.Mrs Carter, Darlington.

* Were sure this sort of incident must happen quite often in GPs surgeries, but the rest of us rarely hear about it. Reassuring though, isnt it? So were sending this weeks bouquet to staff at the Neasham Road surgery as representatives of GPs and wish Mrs Carter a full and speedy recovery.

ensioner Ellen Davies took a tumble in Darlington recently, crossing the road.

Please will you thank the people in the bus queue who came to my aid, including the bus driver, she says. Everyone was very kind.

They also showed concern for my husband who had been in the post office and was so upset when he came out to see me lying in the middle of the road. But we had a cup of tea in Wilkinsons and soon felt better.

Lots of bruises but no bones broken.

June Yarrow ran in the Race for Life in South Park, Darlington, a few weeks ago.

It was a very well organised event, due to the many people who gave their time so willingly, such as Running Club members (who were stewards and were very encouraging in the heat!) and Bedale High School pupils as well as many others, she says. Hopefully, it will have raised a lot of money for Cancer Research.

Well done to all those race organisers and helpers and, of course, to all the runners themselves.

* If you want to say a public thank you for good service or to a helpful neighbour, kind stranger or efficient business, then just write with all the details to Sharon Griffiths, Bouquet of the Week, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.

Or e-mail sjgriff111@aol.com. Each week the person nominated in our main letter gets a real bouquet of flowers or a box of hand made chocolates from The Little Chocolate Shop in Leyburn.