SUNDERLAND Trading Standards officers are the latest authority to issue a warning on toy Yo-Yo Water Balls.

They consists of a stretchable cord attached to a squashable plastic ball covered with soft spikes and filled with liquid. There have been two cases in where children have accidentally wound the cords of the toys around their necks, nearly strangling themselves. Trading standards officer Tom Terrett said: "Because of the serious nature of the incidents involving this product, I would recommend that parents prevent children playing with these toys and would advise any retailers to withdraw the products from sale."

FREE ACCESS: A council has launched projects to give residents hundreds of thousands of hours of free Internet and computer access, with an army of volunteers on hand to help people of all ages to get started. The People's Network and Lending Time volunteers projects, run by Gateshead Council, were launched by MP, Joyce Quin. For details, call Gateshead Central Library on 0191-477 3478.

EGG DEADLINE: Entries are now being taken for what has become one of the North-East's biggest Easter egg competitions. Decorated eggs should be handed in before next Wednesday at the Tourist Information Centre, in Peterlee, where they will go on show prior to judging. There are three age categories: under-sevens, seven to nines, and ten and over.

CHARITY EENT: Joyce Shaw and friends will perform at the Empire Theatre, Consett, on Saturday, at 7.30pm. Proceeds will go to the Arthritis Research Campaign. Tickets are £5, available on (01207) 509976.

CHORAL CONCERT: Derwentside Choral Society will perform a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, on Saturday, at 7.30pm. For tickets, call (01207) 218899.

FLOWER CLUB: Lanchester and District Flower Club will meet in Lanchester Community Centre on Wednesday, April 23, at 2pm, for a demonstration by Olive Dalrymple, of Gilsland.

COMPUTER COURSE: A computer course for beginners will be held in Delves Lane Village Hall, near Consett, today, from 7pm to 9pm. To attend, call (01207) 583174.

CHURCH SERVICES: Easter services will take place in Pelton Methodist Church on Friday, April 18, at 3pm, and on Sunday, April 20, at 10.30am.

MILK AWARDS: Charlton Brown and Haley Ness, pupils at St Hild's College CE Primary School, in Durham, have won awards from Cool Milk at School, which supplies subsidised milk, for their work as milk monitors.