DURHAM City Council is to ask residents what they think about its services.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled authority plans to carry out four surveys and says the results will be used to improve the way it tackles the area's problems. The council leader, Councillor Sue Pitts, said: "Every reply will count. Our goal is to change Durham for the better." The first survey forms, about benefits, will be sent out to a random selection of residents next week. The second, on general council issues, will go out in early September and in October the questions will be about planning issues. Following that, will be a survey on the authority's housing service.

CREDIT UNION: Durham City and District Credit Union is running a collection point today in the hall at St Nicholas Church, Market Place, Durham, between 12.30pm and 2pm. The entrance is by a door below the Gateway Shop.

GUIDED WALK: Voluntary countryside ranger Steve Shippen will lead a six-and-a-half-mile walk in the Castleside and Shotley Grove area tomorrow, starting at 10.30am at the car park where the Derwent Walk meets the Waskerley Way.

ART COMPETITION: Durham Clayport Library and the Durham Wildlife Trust are holding a pavement art competition tomorrow in Millennium Place for children of all ages. Entry is £1. Prizes will be books and book tokens.

COURT CONVERSION: Durham County Council is seeking planning permission to convert a tennis court at Esh Winning Primary School, The Wynds, Esh Winning, into a car park.

CASTLE VISIT: Walkers will get a rare chance to visit Brancepeth Castle after a five-mile guided walk led by voluntary countryside ranger Sheila Everard on Sunday, starting at 10.30am at the castle. It costs £2.50.

ROCK NIGHT: Young Stanley rock band Skinflint will be playing tonight at The Three Tuns, Sheriffs Highway, Gateshead, starting at 8pm. Admission is free. For further information, call the venue on 0191-487 0666.

MORE ROOM: Derwentside District Council is being asked to grant planning permission for a single-storey pitched roof extension to be built at the back of a house in Alfreton Close, Brandon.

PUB GIG: Baboono will be playing in the Stables bar at the Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, near Stanley, tomorrow night. Doors open at 8.30pm and there is a cover charge. For more details, call the venue on 0191-370 0237.

GARDEN COMPETITION: The winners of a garden competition run by the Garden Farm and West Lane Community Association in Chester-le-Street were: 1, Mr and Mrs Martin, Carrowmore Road; 2, D Elton, Rydal Road; 3, Ms A Crampton, Lowther Avenue.