The Shuttle and Loom pub, in Whinfield Road, Darlington, has been refused permission to place two flags outside the building.

An appeal against Darlington Borough Council's decision to reject the application was dismissed by a Government inspector.

A home owner also lost her appeal to the Secretary of State for permission to build a first-floor extension at her home in Bensham Road. Darlington Borough Council refused the scheme on the grounds that the extension would overlook neighbouring homes. The authority's view was upheld.

PLAYER STOLEN: A Sony CDX CD radio player, valued at £108, and £50 worth of CDs, were stolen from a red Vauxhall Astra in Parker Terrace, Ferryhill, between 7pm on Friday and 8am on Sunday.

RADIO THEFT: A Kenwood radio CD player, worth £200, was stolen from a white Vauxhall Astra between noon on Saturday and 11.15am on Sunday in Richmond Close, Ferryhill.

TYRES SLASHED: The tyres on a white Nissan Sunny were slashed outside the Dandy Cart pub, Silverdale Place, Newton Aycliffe, between 11.20pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.

PAIN CONTROL: Alternative ways to control pain will be discussed at a public meeting in Darlington organised by the Campaign self-help group at the Friends Meeting House, Skinnergate, on Thursday, at 7pm. For details call Christine Brydon on (01325) 244865.

FUNDRAISING EVENT: An event for staff of Amity Mortgages, in Darlington, raised £200 for the children's ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

FAST PLANNING: Figures show that Darlington Borough Council dealt with 718 planning applications from April 2001 to March last year. Of those, 78 per cent were decided within eight weeks and 94 per cent were granted permission.

FOLK CLUB: Darlington Folk Club meets at the Arts Centre every Thursday. The club is busy organising the annual Spring Thing festival, from March 26 to 30.

CARE TRUST: Sedgefield Primary Care Trust's board will meet at the trust's offices in Green Lane, Spennymoor, on Thursday, at 2pm.

LODGE PLAN: An application to convert Maple Lodge Nursing Home, in Middleton St George, into a 22-bed psychiatric unit, has been received by Darlington Borough Council.

ADULT LEARNING: Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, is holding an enrolment session for its spring term adult courses. For more details call (01325) 461315, or log on to www.qeliz.ac.uk