FEMALE residents of a north Durham community have been invited to celebrate International Women's Day with four hours of activities.

The event, organised for women in Derwentside, will be held at St Stephen's Church Hall, Holly Hill Gardens East, South Stanley, from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday.

It will include a makeover session by beauty therapists, self-defence, a tai chi demonstration, mini manicures, beauty tips and a free buffet lunch.

Health promotion staff from Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT), Sure Start Stanley and staff from other organisations will be on hand to offer information on how to stop smoking, healthy eating, exercise, osteoporosis and breast awareness.

There will be a Healthy Treasure Trail where participants have to find answers to the clues from the organisations attending the event.

Lynne Teasdale, community health development worker for the Stanley Green Corridor, said: "This is a new way of addressing health inequalities in the Derwentside area and for the PCT to engage with local communities and support them in improving their health.

"It is an important step in a long-term commitment to the community health development work and an equally important initiative to help all members of the community to be healthy and safe in their own homes.

"We hope that the event will be a huge success, with lots of people coming along and taking advantage of all that's on offer and finding the information useful."

The event in Stanley is being co-ordinated by the Stanley Green Corridor Neighbourhood Community Health Development Project, in partnership with Derwentside PCT, Derwentside District Council, Age Concern Durham County, Derwentside Locality Office and Sure Start Stanley.