THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to the coast at the weekend for the Hartlepool Maritime Festival.

It starts at 11.30am on Saturday with a procession of stiltwalkers and drummers from Maritime Avenue to the Historic Quay. Activities during the weekend include trick water skiing displays, speedboat rides, a walk the plank competition and music from around the world. At 8pm on Saturday there will be a fireworks display on the quay. Sunday's activities are from noon to 6pm.

WOMAN INJURED: A woman was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital after fire officers rescued her from her car following a collision in Eastdene Road, on the Eastlea Estate, Seaham, County Durham, just after 12.20pm yesterday.

GOING FOR A TITLE: Rodney Tennant of Tennants Auctioneers, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, was named Auctioneer of the Year, at the British Antiques and Collectibles Awards in London. He received the award from judges' chairman Eric Knowles, of the Antiques Roadshow. Mr Tennant said: "I feel very honoured to have won the award - and proud as our family have been auctioneers for three generations."

CASTLE SETTING: Shakespeare's Richard III will be performed in the courtyard of Brancepeth Castle, near Durham City, next weekend. The audience is invited to take a picnic to the event, on Saturday. The gates open at 5.30pm and performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 and £12.50 from the box office on 0191-378-0628.

BRIDGE CLOSED: Middlesbrough's landmark Transporter Bridge, the star of the recent series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, will remain closed until Friday for repair work. Middlesbrough Borough Council has apologised for any inconvenience.

SPLASHING OUT: Northumbria Police Charities Committee has splashed out on specialist equipment for a charitable pool. The pool is a Newcastle-based collaboration of registered charities supporting people with learning and/or physical difficulties. The committee awarded the pool nearly £1,000 worth of specialist equipment to help disabled people take part in a music programme being run with Gateshead College.

FUN DAY: Ranger Emma Millar organised a fun day at Sugley Dene, in Lemington, Newcastle, on Saturday, to raise awareness of the site and seek local people's views on her plans to have it designated as a local nature reserve. Activities included a falconry display, chain saw wood carving, face painting and willow weaving.

TEENAGERS APPEAL: Women in the region are being asked to search their wardrobes to help a chronically sick Romanian teenager. Anca Cojocaru, 13, who has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment, is appealing to Middlesbrough charity Convoy Aid to find her a short black wig with a fringe. Anyone who can help is asked to call organiser Rod Jones on (01642) 649434

CHARITY CALL: Marie Curie Cancer Care is seeking volunteers who can spare a few hours a week for its charity shops. Help is needed at Chester-le-Street, Sunderland, Houghton-le-Spring, South Shields, Fulwell and Billingham. Anyone interested can contact community fundraising manager Carol Oliver on 0191-382 3311.