Children will be returning on Monday to Middleton-St-George Primary School, which was damaged by fire last month.

Pupils have been taught at the old Firthmoor Primary School while work has been carried out to make their school safe. Half the school will be reopened on Monday and a number of temporary classrooms will be used to house the children. Darlington Borough Council plans to build a new school in the next two years.

STATUE STOLEN: A statue of a woman has been stolen from a garden in Neasham, near Darlington. The 3ft, grey marble-effect statue depicts a kneeling woman dressed in a gown. It is worth about £70 and was taken some time between Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Greg Beswick, on (01325) 742124.

YOUTH SITE: A website for youngsters in County Durham has been launched. It contains information and offers a chance to air views. The site can be found at www.youthaloud.net.

MEETING DATE: Cockerton West Community Partnership is holding a meeting on Monday, at 5.30pm, in Mount Pleasant School, Branksome, Darlington. Call (07866) 554192 for details.

WI MARKET: A Women's Institute market is being held in the Friends' Meeting House, Skinnergate, Darlington, on Tuesday, from 10am to 11.30am.

RESIDENTS' MEETING: Darlington's Central Ward Partnership is holding a meeting on Wednesday, at 6.30pm, in St James the Great Church hall.

RAIL TALK: Alan Thompson will give a talk on Tanfield Railway - Past and Present at Darlington Railway Museum on Thursday, at 7.15pm.

EASTER PRIZES: An Easter raffle at Asda in Darlington raised £200 for National Children's Homes. An Easter colouring competition at the store was won by Marcus Hunter, five and Jack Chapman, nine, both from Darlington. Georgina Bascombe, Briny Reilly and Lewis and Hannah Kent all won prizes in the children's egg decoration competition.

HOMES SUPPORTED: A housing development is likely to be given the backing of councillors on Wednesday. Alexander Developments has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to build nine new homes on land to the rear of Haughton Green. Planning officials are recommending approval after only one letter of complaint was received.

COFFEE CASH: Darlington's Blackwell Grange Area Residents' Association is holding a coffee morning on Saturday, May 10, from 10am to 11.45am, at the Millennium Centre, Ravensdale Road, in aid of the Children's Society.