Residents' fears have led to a call to railway managers for a trackside safety review.

Concerns in Teesside include an unlocked gate at Eaglescliffe Railway Station, poor fencing at the Eaglescliffe South Junction and rubbish on the line and dumping on the trackside. Liberal Democrat Ward Councillor John Fletcher has taken up the matters with Network Rail.

NAILING THIEVES: Northumbria Police are helping to reduce motorbike thefts by teaming up with hoteliers in Whitley Bay. Holidaymakers from Scandinavia often travel across with their expensive motorbikes on the North Sea ferries to visit the region. Tynemouth area command is now providing a number of hotels in the town with high strength locks which are anchored into the ground in concrete.

TAKE THE CASH: Grants of up to £5,000 are being advertised on Tyneside's Metro system. The Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland has won a 60 per cent increase in its Government grants budgets for 2003-2004. Now it wants to hear from groups who need cash to train volunteers and staff, hold courses, organise exchange visits, buy equipment, organise community theatre or art events or plan ethnic cultural activities.

FOUNDER'S VISIT: Simon Clifford, the head and founder of the International Confederation of Futebol de Salao, which runs Brazilian football schools, has visited the school at Silksworth Sports Complex, in Sunderland. He met players from the under nines through to the under 16 age groups.

WILDE PLAY: A camp and contemporary version of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is being performed at the Arts Centre, Darlington, until Thursday, March 20. For information or tickets phone (01325) 486555.

KNOCKOUT CHALLENGE: Contestants are needed for an It's a Knockout-style charity event at Gateshead International Stadium, on Sunday, June 15. The event, organised by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, will see sponsored teams of ten players take part in a range of fun games. For details, contact Sue Allan on (01302) 775150, or visit the website www.knockout-challenge. co.uk

CENTRE manager: The Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, in Durham City, has a new manager. Richard Toynbee, who has been the centre's operations manager since it opened in 1998, has taken over from Philip Bennion, who has retired.

TRANSPORT OF DELIGHT: A free talk to the Cleveland Industrial Archaeology Society on Wednesday should prove just the ticket for members. Ian Wiggett, secretary of the Aycliffe Preserved Bus Society, will give an illustrated talk about veteran buses, at St Mary's Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough. All are welcome.

HEALTH MEETING: Campain, the group for chronic pain sufferers, meets in committee room 3B at Durham City Hall tomorrow, when a consultant surgeon from the University Hospital of North Tees will speak about back surgery. Admission to the meeting, which starts at 7pm, is free and open to anyone.