PLANT SALE: Dobbies Garden Centre will be the venue for a plant sale being held by the Chester-le-Street Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society. It will take place at 10.30am on Saturday and Sunday.

DICKENS WALK: A three-mile Tale of Two Villages walk, Beamish and West Pelton, will be led by Neville and Gloria Anderson. They are both voluntary countryside rangers and the event will start at 10.30pm on Sunday, April 21, from the Eden Place picnic area.

SELF-DEFENCE: A Wing Chun Kung Fu class is being held by John Agar, who has 27 years' experience. The class will take place from 11am to 1pm on Sundays in the Chester-le-Street Community Centre, Newcastle Bank. For more information call Mr Agar on 0191-410 0613.

FAR NORTH: The Sacriston and District Everyman's Club will hear a travelogue on Iceland and Greenland by Peter Bowes at 7.30pm on Tuesday. He will give his talk in the lounge of St John's Court.

HEADTEACHER RETIRES: Maureen Maltby, who joined Lord Lawson of Beamish Comprehensive School, in Birtley, as deputy headteacher in 1984, has retired after ten years as headteacher.

ALL THAT JAZZ: Phoenix Jazz will be entertaining the Members of Jazz, in Birtley, from 8pm to 11 pm next Thursday. The event will be held in the Birtley RAOB Club, Fell Bank.

EASTER OFFERING: Mirrors on Miracles, which is the Methodist Circuit Easter Offering service, is to be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday in the Chester-le-Street Methodist Church.

POLICEMAN RETIRES: Peter Holland, 55, has retired after 30 years' service with the police, spent mostly working as a beat officer with Chester-le- Street police.

CHAIRMAN'S CHARITIES: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Marie Curie Cancer Care have both been selected as the council chairman's charities.

PEARL OF A PLAY: Busy Ape are presenting the Pearl of Power at 3pm on Saturday, April 20, in Ouston Community Centre. Admission is free.

MUSIC PRIZE: The James Etherington Music Award for young musicians will hold a presentation in Chester-le-Street Methodist Church on Tuesday.

TOP TOY: Beamish Open Air Museum is demonstrating the history of Meccano on Saturday and Sunday.

RINGERS WANTED: St Mary and St Cuthbert's Parish Church is appealing for more bellringers. More details are available by contacting Ian Wintrip on 0191- 388 0083.

CONCERT NIGHT: The North East Concert Band is staging a concert at 7.30pm on Sunday in the Chester-le-Street Community Centre, Newcastle Banks. Tickets cost £2.50.

DONOR SESSIONS: A blood donor session has been arranged for next Thursday, from 2.30pm to 7pm in the Barley Mow Village Hall. Other sessions have been organised for Monday, April 22, from 3pm to 7pm in Stanley Community Centre, Tyne Bank, and between 2.30pm and 7pm in the Red Lion, Chester-le-Street