THE Liberal Democrats are fielding candidates for all the seats on Durham City Council. The party is making a strong push to wrest control from Labour.

Labour has 42 candidates for the 50 seats. Eleven Independents are standing, the Conservatives are fielding seven and the Durham Taxpayers Alliance, which is protesting about council tax rises, has five candidates.

SPORTS COURSES: Durham School is holding swimming and cricket courses during the Easter holidays. The swimming course costs £27 and runs from Sunday, April 13, to Thursday, April 17, from 10.45am to noon. Cricket coaching is on offer from Monday to Friday, April 11, and from Sunday, April 13, to Thursday, April 17. The courses cost £88 a week, and run from 9.30am to 5pm. To book, call Nicola McCann on 0191-386 4783.

GET DANCING: Ballroom and sequence dance classes run by Norma Naylor are held on Tuesdays at The Arts Centre, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington. Beginners' classes are from 1pm to 2pm, and intermediate classes are from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Admission is £1.20. To attend, call 0191-219 3455.

TEDDY DAY: A Teddy Bear day will take place at Tanfield Railway, near Stanley, on Sunday, April 13. Every child bringing a teddy bear will be entitled to a free ride on a steam train. The trains will run through Causey Woods from 11am.

ROUTES TOUR: Rhythm 'n' Routes, a nine-piece band with musicians from Kenya, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe, will perform at Durham's Gala Theatre on Friday, May 9, at 8pm. Tickets are £5 and £12, available on 0191-332 4040.

GUEST SPEAKER: Myles Audas will give a talk titled Africa's Gem to Pittington Photography Club at 7.30pm on Monday, at Pittington Village Hall.

EXTRA ROOM: Derwentside District Council is being asked to grant planning permission for a single-storey extension at the rear of a house in St Heliers Way, East Stanley.

COUNTRY WALK: Geologist Maurice Holliday will lead a nine-mile walk on Friday, starting at 10am, from the Baybridge Picnic Area, west of Blanchland, near Consett.

RECRUITS WANTED: Annfield Plain Army Cadets is looking for recruits. The group meets on Mondays and Thursdays, from 6.30pm to 9pm. To join, call 07951 924041.

MUSIC SESSION: Haswell Folk Club will hold a traditional music session from 8.30pm tonight, in The Wayfarer pub, Haswell, starting at 8.30pm. Admission is free.

TEA DANCE: A tea dance will be held in Sherburn Sports Centre today, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Admission is £2