AMERICAN CHOIR: The Orange Grove Gospel Choir, from North Carolina, in the US, appears at Consett Empire Theatre on Saturday, July 26 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £5 and £3.

CUMBRIAN WALKS: Mem-bers of Consett and Vale of Derwentside Naturalist Field Club will take part in three walks near Gilsland in Cumbria next Saturday. The bus will leave Annfield Plain at 8.15pm with other pick-up points en route. Places must be booked by calling (01207) 508774.

PUPPET POWER: The Gobby Base Puppet Club will present When Puppets Ruled The World at 7.30pm on Friday, July 25, at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley. Tickets cost £3.

FABRIC SALE: A sale of household textiles will be held from 10am until noon on Wednesday at Delves Lane Village Hall. The hall is holding a Body Shop night, with cheese and wine, at 6.30pm on Tuesday. Tickets cost £1.50.

DONOR SESSION: The National Blood Service will hold a donor session from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday, July 29, at Consett Methodist Hall.

BLUES FESTIVAL: Stanley Blues Festival takes place from noon until 6pm on Saturday, August 2, on the King's Head playing fields.

ADULT EDUCATION: Stanley Community Centre, in Tyne Road, will hold a series of courses organised by Education in the Community beginning in September. For details call (01207) 233512.

SPONSORED WALK: A sponsored walk organisedby Burnopfield Community Centre raised £1,031.70 for Macmillan Nurses.

TODDLER GROUP: The Cat Club meets from 10am until noon on Tuesdays in St Andrew's Family Resource Centre, Stanley.

CHARITY NEWS: A collection by Mansfield News, East Stanley, raised £169.35 for St Cuthbert's Hospice.

SPORTING CASH: A total of £700 was raised at the Farmhouse Inn, East Stanley, for Beamish and East Stanley Sports.

MUSIC NIGHT: The Blue Boar, Stanley, is presenting Rockerfella at 8pm on Thursday.