LANDLORDS of neighbouring pubs in Darlington want extended opening hours.

Applications to serve drinks at Aruba, in King Street, until midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and until 2am on Sundays before bank holidays; and at Route 66 until 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, will be considered by Darlington Borough Council's licensing committee next Wednesday.

SCHOOL WORK: Darlington Borough Council has approved plans for a hall extension and extra office space at Heighington CE Primary School, and an extension to provide a disabled lavatory and cloakroom at Mount Pleasant Primary School.

HOSPICE BONUS: A group of performers from Beck House adult support centre, in Darlington, raised £100 for St Teresa's Hospice with a show at the Gateway Club, Harrowgate Hill.

FUN DAY: Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, is holding a family fun day tomorrow. For details call (01833) 690606.

BAND MARCH: The Salvation Army band will march through Barnard Castle on Sunday, leaving St Mary's Church at 11.30am to march to Scar Top for an open-air service.

GUIDED WALK: Teesdale historian Vera Chapman will lead a guided walk around Staindrop Green on Sunday. Walkers should meet at the post office, on North Green, at 10.30am.

PICNIC DATE: Staff from Bishop Auckland's Asda store will be raising funds for the Jubilee Fields play scheme in Shildon by running a stall at a Teddy Bear's Picnic, at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, on Monday, from 11am to noon.

GARDENS DAY: National Gardens Scheme designated charities, such as Macmillan Nurses and Marie Curie Foundation benefited from the recent Gardens Open Day organised by Sedgefield in Bloom Committee. Just over £1000 was raised.

SLIDE SHOW: Teesdale Photographic Society is holding a slide show on Monday, at 7.30pm, in the Masonic Hall, Middleton-in-Teesdale.

NEW CHAIRMAN: Peter Rowley, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, has been appointed chairman of Connexions Tees Valley, a new support service for young people which will be launched in September.