ELECTRIC CARS: Test drives are taking place between 8.30am and 1pm on Friday, March 22 at CableCom, Westland Way on Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton.  Some of the latest models of electric and hybrid vehicles will be on show from the award-winning ZE van from Renault and the Sunderland-built Nissan Leaf to hybrids from Lexus, Toyota and Peugeot. For more details visit www.tadea.com/tomorrowsworldtoday

POETRY READING: Poet Anne Ryland will be giving a reading from her work when she visits Middlesbrough Central Library on Thursday, March 21. The prose has been written through the voices of her female ancestors and concludes with personal themes of the body, fertility, disability and genetic inheritance. She appears as part of New Writing North’s Read Regional campaign the event is free and starts at 2pm.