GARDENERS are being urged to take up a new council initiative to compost their green waste.

Durham County Council is encouraging people to use compost as an environmentally-friendly alternative to peat. To help gardeners to make the transition, the authority is giving people the chance to try out a free home compost bin for 60 days. The bins come in two sizes and at the end of the trial period can be bought for the reduced prices of £15 and £20. For more details, telephone 0870 844 3021.

CHURCH FAIR: St Luke's Church, Ushaw Moor, will hold its summer fair on Saturday, starting at noon. The event will feature a barbecue and stalls. Admission is free. Proceeds will go to church funds.

CHARITY CASH: The Durham group of Diabetes UK raised £402 through a collection at Sainsbury's supermarket at the Arnison Centre, Pity Me, on June 14. The money will go towards research into diabetes.

PAIN GROUP: The next meeting of the Durham group of Campain, for chronic pain sufferers, will be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 7pm in committee room 1a at County Hall, Durham, when there will be a talk on therapies for managing chronic pain.

SALSA NIGHT: A Salsa class will be held tomorrow night in the Studio restaurant on the top floor of Durham's Gala Theatre, between 7.30pm and 11pm. Admission costs £4. For more details, call the box office on 0191-332 4041.

BACKING SOUGHT: Derwentside District Council is being asked to grant outline planning permission for residential development on land south west of Howards Buildings, Castleside, near Consett.

HOSPICE SALE: A coffee morning and sale of books, jewellery, bric-a-brac and home-made produce will be held on Saturday, July 5, at St Cuthbert's Hospice, Park House Road, Merryoaks, Durham, between 10am and noon. Admission costs 50p.

CHARITY FUNDRAISER: An auction will be held at The Commercial Inn, Tantobie, near Stanley, on Saturday, July 5 (viewing 5.30pm, start 6.30pm) to raise money for the North-East Disabled Motorists Club. It will be followed the next day by a five-mile fun run starting at 10am. For more details, call (01207) 281198.

FAIR FUN: Children joined parents and teachers to enjoy all the fun of the fair. The Parent Teacher Association of Nevilles Cross Primary School, in Durham City, staged the fair to raise funds for the school. Attractions included a bouncy castle, face-painting, a circus skills workshop and a balloon race.

PLANNING BID: Durham City Council is being asked to grant planning permission for seven homes on land at the rear of High Street North, Langley Moor.