A SOAP star will front free street entertainment for Christmas shoppers in Spennymoor town centre.

Actor Tony Barton, who has appeared in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, will front a Christmas spectacular show.

Silly Billy Productions will perform four hours of family entertainment at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Saturday, December 7, from 1pm. Details are available from the centre or shops in the town.

HOMES SCHEME: Plans by Newton Moor Construction for 26 homes on the site of a former nursing home, Church House, in Barton Street, Darlington, were approved by the borough council's planning committee yesterday.

CLUB CAPTAIN: Bishop Auckland Golf Club members elected secretary Alan Milne, from West Auckland, as club captain last night. Retiring captain Clive Auld thanked supporters who helped raise more than £4,000 for children's cancer charities.

SCHOOL FAIR: Croft Primary School, Darlington, will be holding a fair on Saturday, from 10am to noon.

CHURCH FUNDRAISER: St Peter's Church, Byers Green, will be holding a Christmas fair in the parish hall on Saturday, at 2.30pm.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: The action plan manager for Crook, Christine Budd, will switch on the town's Christmas lights in North Terrace, opposite the Civic Centre, at 4.30pm tomorrow.

SALES BONUS: This year's Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in Eastgate and Cowshill raised £861, which was £50 more than last year.

COFFEE AID: A coffee morning in aid of St Andrew's Church, Westgate, will take place in the village hall on Saturday, at 10.30am.

TOP BRASS: As part of its Top Brass series of concerts, Stanhope Silver Band will present the Ever Ready Band at Stanhope Methodist Church on Saturday, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Joan Woodhall's fruit shop in Front Street, or telephone (01388) 537229.

SPORT CONTEST: Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre is to stage round one of the Under-16 English School Badminton Association Championships on January 11 next year, with the Under-14 event to follow on March 8. The top two boys and girls teams go through to the national finals in Luton. Any school interested in entering, can contact Philip Boyle on (01325) 241191.

SHOPS CHALLENGE: Shops in Spennymoor are being encouraged to get into the Christmas spirit with a festive window dressing competition. So far, 11 retailers have entered the contest, which is being run by Spennymoor Town Centre's management team. A panel of judges will meet at the town hall on Tuesday to pick the winning window.

RECREATION PLAN: Plans for the development of Cockfield recreation ground will be on display in Cockfield Community Centre, on Tuesday, December 10, at 6.30pm.