A TEENAGE boy and girl admitted obstructing a police officer when they appeared before South Durham magistrates in Darlington yesterday.

Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, said the officer was called to a Darlington street in the evening after police confronted a gang of 20 youngsters causing trouble. One officer attempted to apprehend a girl and the defendants, both 17, swore at him and tried to stop him. The youth was fined £30 . Sentencing for the girl was adjourned until March 7.

IRISH NIGHT: A St Patrick's night celebration will take place at Firthmoor Community Centre, Darlington, on Saturday, March 15, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the centre in Burnside Road.

RESIDENTS MEET: The next meeting of Ferryhill Lakes Residents' Association will be on Wednesday at 2pm, in the Ladder Centre, Coniston Road, Ferryhill.

COUNCIL MEETINGS: A meeting of Great Aycliffe Town Council's environment committee will be held in the council offices, School Aycliffe Lane, Newton Aycliffe, at 7.15pm, followed by a meeting of the recreation committee.

WILDLIFE TALK: Middleton St George Wildlife Group will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, March 4,. The event takes place in the lounge of the Havelock Arms, Middleton St George, at 7pm. Ian Telford, who works at an owl sanctuary, will be speaking and offering the chance to view some birds.

FLOWER CLUB: Hurworth Flower Club meets at Hurworth Village Hall on the third Wednesday of every month, at 2pm For details, call (01325) 720177.

SNEAK-IN THEFTS: Sneak-in burglaries are continuing to be a problem in the Darlington area. This week, between 35 and 40 per cent of all burglaries in Darlington were sneak-in thefts. Police are urging people not to leave doors or windows unlocked, even if they are in the house or garden, and not to leave handbags and keys in hallways.

COFFEE MORNING: The Darlington Lioness Club is holding a coffee morning in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance on Wednesday, March 12, from 10am to noon, in Hurworth Grange.

SECRET SERVICE: Twenty five children played Secret Agents at St Peter's Church, in Bishop Auckland. The Reverend Peter Lee led a day of songs, games, crafts, talks, prayers and drawing, helped by Diana Lee, Linda Leslie and Heather Patterson.

PARTNERSHIP MEETS: Dene Valley Community Partnership meets on Thursday, March 6, at 1.30pm in the One Stop Shop, Eldon Lane.