A BURGLAR who took part in a £4,000 raid while an unsuspecting householder was at work was jailed for two years yesterday.

Paul Robinson, 24, had been released from a three-year sentence for another burglary and theft for just three months when he was part of a gang who targeted a house in Goathland Drive, Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Robinson, of Barbara Street, Grangetown, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to burglary and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.

TAXING DESIGNS: Children can take part in a poster design competition to mark the introduction of the Child Tax Credit in April. The Inland Revenue is launching a national campaign, Money2Mummy, which gives the biggest financial boost for mothers in 90 per cent of families, since the introduction of Child Benefit. Children under 12 should design a poster depicting what they would like to do during their summer half-term holiday. Entries can be taken to Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres in Middlesbrough, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Durham and Thornaby.

DOG CHIPPING: The National Canine Defence League takes its mobile micro-chipping centre on the road in the region next week. It will be at Holly Crescent, in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, on Monday, from 10am until 12.30pm and then 1.30pm to 4pm, Ouston Community Centre car park at the same times on Tuesday, Burnside Club car park, Fencehouses, on Wednesday, and then The Ark, Chester-le-Street, on Thursday. The micro-chipping for dogs will be free for anyone on benefits or a pension and £9.50 for everyone else.

WINNING JOKE: Sam Everall, six, from Darlington, has won a competition to find the town's funniest children's joke - and will now compete in a regional final. The contest, run by Brewsters restaurants, will see the ten funniest comics go to Legoland or the BBC Television Centre. Sam's joke was "What do you call a donkey with three legs?" "Wonkey."

FREE TENNIS: A free day of tennis is being offered at venues throughout the North-East as part of a national campaign. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is launching the six-month Play Tennis campaign on Saturday tomorrow to encourage people of all ages to take up the sport. To find out which tennis venues in the North-East are participating visit www.LTA.org.uk/playtennis

BOOK SIGNING: The Northern Echo's former walks correspondent Charlie Emett will be signing copies of his local history book Made in Darlington (Sutton, £12.99) at Ottakar's in Darlington tomorrow, between noon and 2pm.

DIESEL SPILL: Firefighters were called to clean up a fuel spillage on Wynyard Road, Hartlepool, in the early hours of yesterday. The diesel had leaked from a generator that was operating temporary traffic lights on the road.