A VILLAGE hall's immediate future is secure after a committee was told it is to get a county council grant.

Fears had been expressed about Aycliffe Village Hall since the start of the year when it became clear that funding was in doubt. The concerns followed Government changes in the way community associations are to be funded. But at a recent committee meeting, treasurer David Lewis said he had received a letter from Durham County Council confirming that the association will receive £942 out of the £150,000 pot of transitional funding. The committee also heard that work on the hall's disco area should be completed soon.

MOLLY SWEENEY: A play about a woman who has been blind for 40 years and is offered the chance of sight is coming to Darlington. The nationally-acclaimed London Classic Theatre Company will present Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel on Wednesday, June 18. Tickets for the show at Darlington Arts Centre are £8 or £6 for discounts. Call (01325) 486555.

WEATHERMAN VISITS: TV weatherman Bob Johnson is visiting the village school at Woodland near Barnard Castle to help pupils with a geography topic on world weather on Thursday, June 19, 11am to noon.

JAZZ CARNIVAL: Crook Town Grenadiers Jazz Band will hold its annual carnival on Saturday at Peases West Sports Centre, Crook, from 10.30am. There will be seven marching displays and usual stalls, refreshments and activities.

LUNCH DATE: Lunches will be served at St Mark's Church, Eldon, on Saturday, June 14, from noon to 2pm.

SALE DAY: St Catherine's Community Centre, Crook, will hold table-top mini-markets next Tuesday and June 10 and June 24, from 9am to 2pm. To reserve a table call (01388) 764697.

MINING HERITAGE: A mining exhibition is to be held at Tudhoe Methodist Chapel, near Spennymoor, on Saturday, June 14, 10am to 4pm. Admission is 50p. All proceeds are in aid of the chapel roof repair fund.

CHARITY RACES: Witton Castle will host a harness and pony racing event, with children's activities and refreshments, on Sunday, from 2pm. All profits will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses.

NEW CHAIRMAN: Sadberge Parish Council has elected a new chairman. Millie Scaife was voted in at a meeting on Tuesday. Stuart Best was elected vice-chairman.

HOUSE FIRE: A man and woman were treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at a house in Greenwell Street, Darlington, in the early hours of yesterday Firefighters dealt with the blaze after being called out at 4.50am.

MUSIC DATE: An evening of summer music is coming to Ingleton Methodist Church, near Darlington, on Saturday, at 7.30pm.