A woman treated for the effects of breathing smoke after a fire at her flat was arrested by police who considered the cause as possibly suspicious.

After questioning the 48-year-old tenant about the cause of the blaze, which severely damaged the first floor flat in Chiltern Avenue, Chester-le-Street, shortly before 6am on Saturday, she was released into the care of social services.

SCHOOL REUNION: A reunion for pupils who attended Leadgate County School, between 1953 and 1959, will take place at Leadgate Cricket Club on Saturday, April 12, at 7.30pm. For details call Sandra Stokoe, nee Mawson, on (01207) 502440.

BAND DATE: Rock band TT Blue will perform at The Daisy Hill, Heugh Edge, near Sacriston, on Friday, from 8.30pm. Admission is £1.

NEW CLASS: Computing for the Terrified is one of a series of evening classes being held at Park View Community Association, Chester-le-Street, starting on Monday, April 28. For details call 0191-388 1043.

COUNTRY NIGHT: The Seven Winds Country and Western Club will meet at 7.30pm on Tuesday, April 15, at Sherburn Hill Community Centre when Andy Brown will entertain. Admission costs £2 for adults, £1 for children, who must be accompanied by an adult.

ANNUAL MEETING: The annual meeting of Houghall Horticultural Society will be held on Tuesday, April 8, at 7.30pm in the conference hall at Houghall College, Durham. It will be followed by an illustrated talk by Chris Potter, called Sculpture in the Garden. For details call 0191-384 5057.

CHIP FIRE: A chip pan caused a fire that damaged a house and led to neighbours being evacuated from adjoining properties, because of the spread of smoke. It is understood a man in his late 20s escaped from the property in Wylam Street, Bowburn, after being awoken by the crackling of the flaming pan, in the incident on Saturday.

HALL OPEN: Biddick Hall, at Burnmoor, off the A183 Chester-le-Street to Shiney Row road, will be open from 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is £3 for adults and £2 for children over the age of five.

CHORAL SINGING: Felling Male Voice Choir will perform with Marsh Ladies' Choir, from Huddersfield, at the Gala Theatre, in Durham, on Saturday, April 26. The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5, are available from the box office, on 0191-332 4041, or the choir, on 0191-487 6295.

CLIFF RESCUE: A teenage girl was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured arm after being rescued from the foot of cliffs at The Leas, South Shields, by volunteer life brigade members, on Saturday evening.