FIREFIGHTERS wearing protective suits were called to deal with three chemical drums they feared may have contained toxic substances.

The unidentified containers were left in a compound behind The Front, in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, yesterday. Fire officers and the environmental protection unit from Stranton station took them away to have the contents examined.

NEW VENUE: The Cleveland Retired Men's Association has moved from The Regency Hotel, in Redcar, and now meets in the Royal British Legion Club on the corner of Lobster Road and Coatham Road. Doors open at 9.30am every Wednesday and coffee is served from 10am. The guest speaker next week is Norman Harrison who will give a talk, called Experience Corps, at 10.30am. On May 14 Patrick Ralph will present a lecture, called Air Ambulance.

BEER FESTIVAL: Publican Damon Gray has selected a weird and wonderful sounding range of beers for his forthcoming beer festival. They include Hop Back May Poleaxed, Fursty Ferret, Black Pig, Chocolate Stout and Old Growler. The festival, at The Plimsoll Line, High Street East, Redcar, will feature ten beers from around Britain. It will run from Monday to Friday, May 12 to 16.

POSSIBLE CLOSURE: Northumbrian Water will be carrying out sewer repairs, in Oakdene Avenue, Stockton, for three to four days from Tuesday. The work may require a temporary road closure, and signed diversion routes will be introduced if necessary.

DRUG ARRESTS: Heroin and cannabis worth £2,000 was recovered during a raid at a house in Egerton Street, Middlesbrough. A 40-year-old man was arrested by police who also seized £500 in cash, mobile phones and a radio scanner.

GAME WINNER: Competitors are invited to test their skills at table football at Asda, South Bank, Middlesbrough, today. The winner keeps the football table and goes through to a second round.

DESIGNER COURSE: A short course in three- dimensional computer-aided design for local small and medium-sized companies is being launched by the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, from July.