TWO marathon runners have raised money for a project designed to give young people access to sports facilities.

Shayne Brown and Stacey Bellamy, from the Moving On, a charity based in Durham for homeless young people, have collected more than £300-worth of sponsorship for the initiative being launched by their charity. They raised the money by completing the Great North Run last year, and also received a cheque from Three Rivers Housing Group.

ART WINNERS: Three young artists have won a Newcastle City Council Christmas painting competition. Rochelle Graham, 11, from Wharrier Street Primary School, Walker, won the contest with a picture of an angel. The runners up were Melissa Maddison, ten, also from Wharrier Street Primary School, and Helen Patterson, nine, from St Marks RC Primary School, in Newbiggin Hall.

LOVE POTION: Chester-le-Street Theatre Group will perform the UK amateur premiere of Michael Parker's comedy Lone Star Love Potion in the community centre, in Newcastle Bank, Chester-le-Street from Tuesday, February 11, to Saturday, February 15, at 7.15pm. For tickets, call Ann Newland on 0191-385 7500.

MARKETING COURSE: Chester-le-Street Community Association is running a ten-week course in preparing a marketing plan for a small business. It will be held on Tuesdays, from 10am to noon, and on Fridays, from 5pm to 7pm, both starting this week. The courses cost £30. To enrol, call 0191-388 4752.

GET DANCING: Ballroom and sequence dance classes run by Norma Naylor are held on Tuesdays in The Arts Centre, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington. Beginners' classes are from 1pm to 2pm and intermediate classes are from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Admission is £1.20. To join in, call 0191-219 3455.

ESTATE WALK: Local historian David Butler will lead a three-mile walk around the estate of Aykley Heads House, near County Hall, in Durham, on Saturday, starting from the house at 1.30pm. The walk costs £2, concessions £1.

NOSTALGIA NIGHT: Haswell Folk Club will hold a nostalgia night, featuring a quiz and singalong, on Wednesday, at 7.30pm, in The Wayfarer pub, Front Street East, Haswell. Admission is free.

FOLK CLUB: North-East band Prelude will play at Croxdale Folk Club, which meets tomorrow at the Daleside Arms, Front Street, Croxdale, at 8.30pm. Tickets cost £2.50 and are available at the door.

NURSERY PLAN: Mobile Angels is seeking permission from Durham City Council to convert two shops and a billiard hall at Empire Buildings, Durham, into a day nursery.

LUNCH CLUB: A lunch club meets every Tuesday, from noon to 1.30pm, in Sherburn Hill Community Centre, Front Street, Sherburn Hill.