Centre Stage amateur dramatics club will present Dick Whittington and his Cat at the Civic Centre, Shildon, from January 16 to 19.

The show will start at 7pm, with matinee shows at 2pm on Saturday, January 18, and 3pm on Sunday January 19. Tickets for opening night are £1.50, £3 for adults and £1.50 concessions for all other shows. For details, call Derrick Robinson on (01388) 774838.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Worshippers at St Helen's Church, near Bishop Auckland, are celebrating Christmas with carols and a Christingle service on Sunday at 6pm. A candlelight mass is held on Christmas Eve at 11.30pm, and there is a family mass with carols on Christmas morning at 9.30.

COMPUTER COURSES: Free computer courses are offered in the New Year at village halls and community centres around South Durham. For details, call Theresa Curry at Bishop Auckland College on (01388) 443100.

VOLUNTEER APPEAL: The Friends of Senior Citizens charity is appealing for volunteer bands, choirs, pianists, organists and schools to get involved in its concert in Newton Aycliffe on Sunday, April 27, 2003. For details, call Peter Beaty on (01325) 313924.

HOUSE BURGLED: An Aiwa midi-system, worth £180, a woman's gold bracelet worth £60 and a pair of size four Kicker boots were stolen from a house in Bessemer Street, Ferryhill, between 11am and 3.40pm on Wednesday.

GATE THEFT: A wrought iron gate with spikes painted gold at the top, worth £120, was stolen from the front garden of a house in Gordon Terrace, Ferryhill, between 11.30am and 3.20pm on Wednesday.

BUGGY CLUB: Spennymoor and District Mobility Club will hold a meeting at Spennymoor Leisure Centre today, at 2pm, during which they will hold a Christmas prize draw. The club is also appealing for helpers to assist members at meetings and trips. For details, call (01388) 815808.

FREE COURSES: Optimum, the services to business arm of Bishop Auckland College, will run free computer courses next year. The sessions will be held at village halls and local centres. For details, call (01388) 443100.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Grandmother Rebecca Brooks had a great start to Christmas with a VIP shop around Redcar's biggest store. The 75-year-old and her husband Bob from Normanby won a free £100 shop in Morrisons