TWO performing arts students from the North-East have been chosen from an international line-up to take part in a stage musical.

Sarah Warbey, 15, from Darlington, and Tegan Ellershaw, 12, from Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, were among 70 students performing Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Epsom Playhouse, Surrey.

Performers were selected from Stagecoach theatre schools in the UK, Ireland, the US, Germany and Malta.

Sarah, a pupil at Hummersknott School and Language College, Darlington, said: "I was thrilled to be chosen."

ONLINE: Middleton St George Parish Council is planning to publish minutes on The Northern Echo's CommuniGate website at www.communigate.co.uk/ne. The council is also considering appointing consultants to look into the possibility of turning land next to the village's water park into woodland.

CASH BOOST: All Saints' Church, in Blackwell, Darlington, has raised £2,400 at a garden party.

CHARITY AID: Val Matthews, from Darlington, has raised more than £900 for the town's St Teresa's Hospice with a sponsored ten-mile walk.

VALUATION EVENT: Jewellery, silver, ceramics, pictures and works of art will be valued at a charity event at Walworth Castle Hotel, near Darlington, next Wednesday, between 11am and 3pm. Proceeds will go to the Butterwick Hospice, Stockton.

ANNUAL MEETING: Darlington Advanced Motorists will hold their annual meeting at the Indoor Bowls Centre, North Road, Darlington, on Tuesday, October 14, at 7.30pm.

BARN DANCE: A harvest supper and barn dance will take place at All Saints and Salutation Church, Blackwell, Darlington, on October 4. Tickets are available on (01325) 469891.

COFFEE INVITATION: A coffee morning in aid of the British Heart Foundation will be held in St Augustine's Church Centre, Darlington, on Thursday, October 16, from 10am to noon.

FOLK MUSIC: Folk singer Roger Sutcliffe will be joined by resident band Synergy on the first day of Darlington's Rhythm 'n' Brews festival at the Arts Centre on Thursday, September 18, at 8pm. Entry is free.

HARVEST FESTIVAL: St Mary's Church, in Cockerton, Darlington, will hold its harvest festival service on Sunday, September 28, at 9.30am.

OPEN DAY: Darlington Arts Centre will throw open its doors to the public this weekend. The centre is offering live music, children's treasure hunts and workshop tasters on Sunday, between 11am and 5pm.