PRIMARY school pupils joined long distance and cross-country runner Andy Caine, who has represented the England under-21s and Scotland, for a sponsored run. Pupils from West View Primary School, Hartlepool, ran laps around the school field. Mr Caine ran with them and gave a talk about being an athlete.

CLEAN UP: A spring clean of areas of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, will take place on Saturday, April 26. Anyone interested in helping is asked to meet at Nunthorpe Railway Station car park at 10am. The organiser, Brenda Thompson, is looking for people to help provide refreshments for volunteers. She can be contacted on (01642) 318447.

TRUST ROLE: Simon Pleydell has been appointed chief executive at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust. The father-of-two was the trust's director of planning from 1991 to 1997 and is currently chief executive of York Health Services NHS Trust. Mr Pleydell, who will start work in September, takes over from Bill Murray, who retires in October.

COMMUNITY FUND: Representatives from the Community Fund will be in Hartlepool next week to talk about funds available to local voluntary and community groups. The meeting will be at Grange Road Methodist Church Hall, Grange Road, Hartlepool, on Thursday, at 10am. To attend, call Peter Gowland on (01429) 262641.

TEACHERS' LESSON: Judy Moorhouse, of the National Union of Teachers, will give a talk on Thursday, at Saltburn Cricket Club, from 7.30pm. She will focus on issues facing teachers. To attend, call (01287) 643510.

HOSPICE HAUL: Asda, in Billingham, raised £271 for the Butterwick Hospice with a raffle. The winning number was 496.