STAFF and volunteers at a charity shop were joined by Councillor Ken Hall, speaker of Middlesbrough Council, to help them celebrate its fifth anniversary.

Coun Hall presented a community grant of £1,000 from Help the Aged in Dundas Street to an Age Concern group that arranges a regular Friday luncheon club. The money will be used to buy kitchen equipment and to support activities including tai chi, art and craft sessions and indoor bowls at its Borough Road centre.

DIVERSITY DAY: Tai chi, Indian head massage, a sari workshop and Asian dancing are on the agenda when South Bank Library hosts a cultural diversity day on Saturday, to help mark Adult Learners' Week.

CAFE BLAZE: Firefighters were called to a blaze in the Central Park Caf in Coatham Road, Redcar, at about 7.25am yesterday. The fire, which was was out when they arrived, caused smoke damage to five rooms on the ground floor.

TABLE-TOP SALE: A table-top sale will be held at Saltburn Community Centre, on Saturday, May 17, in aid of the Saltburn Folk Festival. The sale takes place between 10am and 4pm.

FUNDRAISING STALL: The Stead Memorial Hospital League of Friends will hold a fundraising stall in Redcar Library, Coatham Road, Redcar next Thursday, from 9.30am.

ANNUAL MEETING: Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, at The Claxton Hotel, High Street, Redcar, at 7pm.

NEW CENTRE: A fitness suite at Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough will be open to the public in the evenings from tomorrow. For details call (01287) 635471.

CAR BOOT SALE: A car boot sale will be held in St Nicholas' Church Parish Church Hall car park on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm. To book a table at a cost of £6 call Alan on (01287) 630712.