POLICE are repeating warnings to householders to keep windows and doors locked after the recent warm weather saw a spate of sneak-in burglaries.

In the past few days, there have been at least five instances where sneak thieves have got into houses in the York area through open doors and windows. Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York police, said: "We have told people again and again to be on their guard against this."

HOSPICE CASH: Daredevil staff at a North-East supermarket have raised £450 with a charity abseil. Six workers from Asda, in Whinbush Way, Darlington, took part in the 100ft drop from the town's Memorial Hospital last Saturday. The money will go towards the hospital and St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington.

LOTTO WINNERS: Great North Air Ambulance lottery winners for June 18 were £200 - 14651, Bowburn; £100 - 14054, Lowick; £50 - 08311, Crookhill; £50 - 16557, Darlington; £25 - 17071, Amble; £25 - 10024, Morpeth. Plus £10 winners - 16113, 12119, 16393, 16698, 16726, 07369, 11697, 14373, 08432, 10954, 14197, 06862, 02478, 05607, 02444, 16611, 16249, 17458, 08374, 16873, 17230, 03948, 11213, 16900, 11975.

ATHLETE'S DEBUT: A North-East student made his debut for Great Britain in a World Tour Biathle Series event in Rome, Italy. Mark Richardson, 17, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, finished a respectable sixth overall and second in the under-18 event in a 25-strong field. The biathle event comprised a 1,500m beach run, a 200m swim in the sea, followed by another 1,500m run on the sand.

CASTLE CRAFTS: A crafts fair will be held at Brancepeth Castle, on the A690 west of Durham, on Friday to Sunday, July 25 to 27, with more than 80 crafts on show. Admission is £1.50 adults, £1 senior citizens, and children go free when accompanied by an adult.

MASONS EVENT: Raby Gala will be held today in the grounds of Raby Castle, near Staindrop, Teesdale, from 11am. Entry by car pass is £7 per car in advance or £10 on the day, and all money raised will go towards the Freemasons of the Province of Durham's New Masonic Samaritan Fund.

HEALTH PRIZE: A North-East schoolboy has picked up a prize in a national poster competition. Five-year-old Miles Armstrong, from Ingleton, near Darlington, was runner-up in a Health and Safety Executive competition to design a poster encouraging children to play safely on farms.

FLOG IT! Treasure hunters who visited Thomas Watson Auctioneers, in Darlington, last November for the filming of BBC2 show flog it! will be able to see themselves on screen on Monday. The programme will be shown at 3.30pm. Another programme featuring scenes from the Darlington shoot will be shown on Wednesday, August 27, at the same time.