Artist's brush with therapy

ARTWORK designed to have a therapeutic effect on its admirers goes on display at Bishop Auckland Town Hall next month. Artist Sarah Tonks says her work has been created to give people the feel-good factor. When Fishes Flew and Forests Walked will include an 8ft dragonfly, melted aluminium artwork and wooden sculptures. The artist is a strong advocate of the therapeutic values of art after working with people recovering from mental illness for the past ten years at St Margaret's Centre, in Durham City. The exhibition opens on May 20 and runs until June 15 at the Hutchinson Gallery, which is open between 10am and 5pm, Mondays to Fridays, and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.

TIME TEAM: A local history Time Team workshop is being held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday, May 10. Members of Durham County Local History Society will be showing people how to trace the history of a community during the one-day workshop. Tickets cost £10, including lunch. To book, call (01388) 602610.

CHARITY SALE: A table-top and car boot sale is being held in aid of Help The Aged, at Horndale WMC, Newton Aycliffe, on Saturday, from 10am to 1pm.

FORUM MEETING: A meeting of the Shildon area forum will be held in the Hackworth Suite, Sunnydale Leisure Centre, Shildon, tonight, at 6.30pm.

SCHOOL REUNION: Former pupils of Sunnydale School, Shildon, are holding a reunion on Saturday, in Elm Road Club. Organiser Pamela Anderson is asking old friends who left in May 1977 to contact her on (01388) 777797. Tickets cost £1.50 and proceeds go to charity.

VILLAGE DANCE: Dancing to Dick Black's Scottish Band is held in Butterknowle Village Hall on Saturday, from 8pm. Tickets cost £5, available on (01388) 718858.

WHIST DRIVE: Kirk Merrington Over 60s Club holds a whist and domino drive, in the village hall, on Saturday, at 2pm. Admission costs £1, including refreshments.

FLOWER FESTIVAL: Tickets are on sale for the opening of a Darlington church's Golden Jubilee flower festival, which takes place on Tuesday, May 30. For details, contact All Saints and Salutation Church, in Blackwell.

GUILD MEETING: The next meeting of Whinfield Townswomen's Guild will be held in Whinfield Junior School, Darlington, at 7pm on May 9. A talk will be given on the Bad Old Leadmines.

ROYAL MEDALS: As part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, Wolsingham Parish Council is to present all under 17s with medals, specially commissioned to mark the event.

CABINET MEETING: A meeting of Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet will be held on Thursday, in the council offices, Green Lane, Spennymoor, at 10am.

CARNIVAL DATE: This year's Crook Carnival will take place on Saturday, July 6