CELEBRATIONS are planned in Middlesbrough to mark Pakistan Independence Day, on Saturday.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, of Rotherham, will be guest of honour, joining the mayor and MPs at the celebration organised by the Teesside Cultural Forum, at the Southlands Centre, Middlesbrough, starting at 6pm.

SUPPORT GROUP: Teesside Glaucoma Support Group is meeting at a new venue this month, the St Aidan's Centre, in Grange Road, Middlesbrough. Joan Jones and Wendy Borthwick will speak about services for those with sight problems at a meeting on Friday, September 26, at 2pm. To attend, call (01642) 313977.

SPEAK UP: Organisers of South Bank Tomorrow are urging the community to attend the annual meeting of the regeneration group, tomorrow, to find out what local people want, and to work together for the town's future. The meeting is at Golden Boy Green, in Normanby Road, South Bank, starting at 7pm.

STARTER'S ORDERS: A group of 11 to 13-year-olds from west Middlesbrough are running in the junior Great North Run on Saturday, September 20, the day before the main race, to raise money for a Christmas party and to fund trips for the elderly. To sponsor them, call (01642) 253209.

LAST NOTES: Trimdon Concert Brass Band will round off a series of summer concerts in the walled garden at Preston Park, near Eaglescliffe, on Sunday, with a mixture of classical and contemporary pieces. The two-hour concert will begin at 2pm.

IMAGE CHANGE: The Students Union bar at the University of Teesside has undergone a £300,0000 facelift, which includes an outside terrace and conservatory, a big screen TV with seating, and a DJ booth and dancefloor.

HOUSE FIRE: A blaze destroyed the front door and caused severe damage to the ground and first floors of a house in Palmerston Street, Stockton, at the weekend. There was also slight damage to two adjoining properties. No-one was hurt.