HOUSE FIRE: Fire crews were called to a washing machine fire in a house in Aske Road, Redcar, at about 1pm on Saturday.

Crews from Redcar fire station put out the fire in just under ten minutes. The washing machine was damaged in the blaze and a small utility room suffered smoke damage.

LITTER PICKING: The Friends of Redcar (FRED) volunteers held a litter picking session in and around Coatham on Saturday.

TSB in Redcar was the latest business to get involved with FRED’s litter picks and staff helped out on Saturday. The group is aiming to rid the coast from the sand dunes in Coatham to the Stray in Zetland of broken glass, brick, rubble and building material.

NEW CLASSES: There are new fitness and dancing classes on offer at the Headland Sports Hall in Hartlepool.

A tea dance sequence dance class is held on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm; Performance dance for children aged eight and up on Thursdays from 4.30pm to 6.30pm; Fit Steps for adults on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and Spinning classes on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.15am to 10am. The cost per session is £4.60 for casual users, £3.60 for members and £2.10 concessions.

For more information call 01429-236564.

BIN COLLECTIONS: Residents in Hartlepool are being reminded that a new online calendar with details of refuse and recycling collections is now available.

The calendar, which covers the period from April 1 2014, to March 31 2015 can be accessed at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/bincalendars.

It tells residents which of their bins - green, brown or grey bin or blue box - will be emptied on a particular date.

ROUTES SAVED: Bus services in Port Clarence will be kept on after concerns they may be withdrawn.

Residents were worried services would cease when the council’s £300,000 bus subsidy stopped at the end of March 2014. But after talks with Stockton Council, Leven Valley Coaches has agreed to run an hourly service from Port Clarence to Billingham Town Centre, continuing to Wolviston.

PERMITS EXPIRED: Hartlepool residents are being reminded to check the expiry dates of blue badge parking permits and concessionary bus passes.

Hartlepool Council said it does not issue reminder letters and the public must renew permits and passes in good time – at least two weeks before expiry.

There are 16,000 bus passes and 4,000 blue badges in circulation in the town. Anyone wanting to apply for a new permit or pass should telephone the Council’s Customer Service Centre on 01429-523331.

WORK STARTED: Work has started on the construction of a new roundabout and dual carriageway on the A174 Parkway Extension near Thornaby. There will be lane width restrictions and a 30mph speed limit may be in place at times, near the Teesside Industrial Estate.