A TASTE of France can be sampled this weekend in Darlington's Market Place.

Shoppers will be able to buy French wares such as roasted garlic, freshly baked croissants, cooked meat, cheese, pate and wine at 15 stalls in the outdoor market.

A selections of fashions and leatherware will also be on sale at the French Market, which starts at 9am and runs from today until Monday.

PIGS PLACE: A former piggery could be transformed if a planning application is approved by Darlington councillors. An application has been submitted to the council to convert the piggery at Middleton Road, Sadberge into a house with a garage.

LOST DOG: A young black and white border collie bitch was found on the A177 road between Sedgefield and Coxhoe at 7.30am yesterday. Anyone who thinks they may know the owner can contact Sedgefield police on (01740) 620272.

SALE DATE: Brafferton and Coatham Mundeville village hall association is holding a bric-a-brac sale tomorrow from 10am to noon, in Brafferton Village Hall. Donations of clean, nearly new items to sell can be delivered to the hall between 6pm and 8pm today. Entry is 20p.

VOLUNTEER APPEAL: Coundon Leeholme Community Project, Tees Walk, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, will hold a gala on Saturday, June 28. To help organise the day call (01388) 665225 during office hours.

CONCERT DATE: Pianist Piers Lane will present work of Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, Bartok and Chopin for the Bishop Auckland Music Society at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. Tickets for the concert on Friday, May 9, at 7.30pm, are £9 and £8 for concessions from Peter Cooper on (0191) 3868622.

CHURCH CONCERT: The Tees Valley Youth Brass Band will give a concert in Sedgefield St Edmund's Parish Church on Monday, May 12, at 7.30pm. The band's fifth visit has been arranged by Sedgefield Rotary Club. Among those benefiting will be the Pop In Club. Tickets, priced £6 and £5 concessions, are available from the Post Office, Margaret Terry at St Edmund's, Norma Hissett at the Pop In Club and at the door.

LINE DANCE: Crook Cricket Club has a country and western and line dancing evening with Dave Foster tomorrow at 8pm. Admission costs £2 at the door.

NEW SHOP: An application to convert the living room of a house at 380 Whessoe Road, Darlington, into a travel agency has been submitted to the borough council.

FLAT PLANS: Suma Homes has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to build 24 apartments with car parking and landscaping on the site of a tyre depot at 27 Coniscliffe Road.

SCHOOL EXTENSION: Beaumont Hill middle school, Glebe Road, Darlington, wants to build a single-storey extension to the premises.