A WIDOWER is to contest his late wife's council seat in a by-election this week.

Walter Armstrong is the Labour candidate for the Burnopfield and Dipton seat on Durham County Council. It was formerly held by his wife, June, who died earlier this year. Also standing are Alex Nelson, Liberal Democrat, Reg Ord, of the Derwentside Independents and Justin Garrod, Conservative. The election takes place tomorrow.

MISSING ORNAMENTS: Police are investigating after a series of thefts of garden ornaments in the Stanley area. A green and gold pergola was taken from a house in Coniscliffe Road at the weekend. Other thefts include two stone lions taken from a garden in Bracken Close and a bird bath from a home in Moore Street. Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01207) 232144.

SUSPICIOUS TOOLS: Police want to trace the occupants of a white, Escort-type van with blacked-out windows. The driver was seen last week trying to sell tools to businesses on industrial estates in Derwentside. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on (01207) 504204.

DONOR SESSIONS: Blood donor sessions will be held on Tuesday, December 10, at Silksworth Community Centre, in Tunstall Village Road, Sunderland, from 2.30pm to 7pm, and at Fyndoune Community College, Findon Hill, Sacriston, from 3pm to 7pm.

CHURCH HISTORY: Dr Margaret Harvey, an expert on England and Europe in the late Middle Ages, gives a talk, The Church in Elvet Before the Reformation, in Durham, tomorrow, at 7.30pm. It takes place at St Cuthbert's RC Church, in Old Elvet. Admission is free.

MORPETH MARCH: Chester-le-Street Ramblers group will take a walk around Morpeth, led by Dara Datsur, on Sunday. Meet at Chester-le-Street Civic Centre car park at 9.30am. For more details, call 0191-388 1279.

MARTIAL ARTS: Taekwondo classes start in the YMCA, Parliament Street, Consett, on Saturday, December 7, at 9am. The course is open to children over six. Admission is £2. To take part, call the centre on (01207) 502680.

WINE TASTING: A wine tasting evening will be held at Durham Town Hall in aid of the British Red Cross today, from 4pm to 9pm. Tickets are £3, available on (01642) 606570.

RINGERS SOUGHT: St Oswald's Church, Durham, is looking for bell-ringers. Volunteers will be given full training. For more details, call Kelvin Appleby on 0191-371 2707.

CHRISTMAS FAIR: A Christmas fair takes place in the hall at St Patrick's Church, Dipton, on Saturday, starting with the arrival of Santa at 1.30pm.

CHARITY QUIZ: A Cancer Research UK Christmas quiz takes place at Chester-le-Street Cricket Club next Wednesday, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £2.

BAND CONCERT: Cornforth Salvation Army Band will be performing a Christmas concert at Bowburn Methodist Church, next Wednesday, from 7.30pm.