Parish councillors have urged a developer to build low-cost housing on an industrial state in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Wimpy has applied to Darlington Borough Council for planning permission to build on the Hadley's site. Parish councillors said they hoped the development would provide two and three-bedroom homes at prices affordable to local people.

FUN FAIR: The annual Newton Aycliffe Simpasture fun fair opens on Friday, and will run for ten days. The first weekend will help boost the Ann Teasdale Appeal with a raffle where the top prize is a £100 voucher for rides. The ticket hotline number is (01325) 308057.

COUNCIL MEETING: Wear Valley District Council's development control committee will meet in Crook Civic Centre tomorrow, at 6pm.

PLANS CONSIDERED: A meeting of Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee will be held in the council offices, Spennymoor, on Friday, at 10am.

LITTER NOTICES: Notices warning people they could be fined for leaving litter or not cleaning up after their dogs are to be posted around Middleton St George by the parish council.

WINDOW SMASHED: A brick was thrown through the windscreen of an Arriva bus in Market Street, Ferryhill, at 10pm on Monday.

LENT CONCERT: Crook and Weardale Choral Singers start a series of Wednesday meetings at Woodhouse Close Church, Bishop Auckland, tonight. The performance of Steiner's Crucifixion starts at 7.30pm.

DIABETICS GR0UP: Bishop Auckland Diabetics Group will meet at 1.30pm today at Cumbria Lodge, Henknowle.

CHURCH DATES: A coffee morning will be held in St John's Church, Neasham Road, Darlington, on Saturday, from 10am to noon. A clarinet concert will be held at the church on March 20, at 7.45pm.

ARCH ENEMIES: Theatre company Jack Drum Arts will visit Edmundbyers Village Hall on Saturday, to perform Arch Enemies, a play written by Jim Woodland. For tickets and details call (01207) 255644.

PEACE VIGIL: The Sedgefield Against War Group will hold a vigil on Sedgefield Village Green on Saturday, from 11am to noon.

CRICKET NETS: Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club begins pre-season training with indoor nets in Woodham Technology College sports hall, starting on Sunday, from 9.30am to 11.30am.

BOWLS CONTEST: The Paul Monkman Pairs Trophy competition will be held at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex, Newton Aycliffe, on Sunday.