WEAR Valley Community Network is holding a conference at Bishop Auckland College on Saturday, November 30.

The meeting will give groups in the area an opportunity to learn about the neighbourhood renewal plan and share ideas.

WRITING AWARDS: An awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, for the winners of a creative writing contest called A Novel Approach, run by Bishop Auckland Town Hall staff and Wear Valley Writers.

JUBILEE COINS: Children at Eldon Lane Primary School, Bishop Auckland, will be presented with commemorative coins to mark the Queen's golden jubilee. They are being provided by Dene Valley Parish Council to children aged up to 11.

CHURCH EVENT: All Saints' and Salutation Church, in Blackwell, Darlington, is holding its Christmas fair on Saturday, November 23, from 10am to 3pm.

FASHION SHOW: A charity fashion show is being held at the George Hotel, Piercebridge, at 7.30pm on November 21. All proceeds will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care. For tickets call (01833) 660220 or (01833) 660253.

MAST PLANS: Members of Wear Valley District Council's development control committee voted to hold a site visit to view the site of a proposed telecommunications mast. The plans are for a 20-metre pole, which would be painted green and brown, to blend into the trees, at Bishop Auckland Golf Club.

VICTORIAN LECTURE: Art historian Gail Nina Anderson will give a lecture on Dante Gabriel Rossetti, called A Victorian Romantic, at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, on November 12, from 11am to 2pm. Tickets are available on (01833) 690606.

CHARITIES FAIR: Bishop Auckland Methodist Church will host a Christmas charities fair on Saturday, from 10.30am to 2pm.

RESIDENTS MEET: Woodhouse Close Residents' Action Group is holding a public meeting on Thursday, at 7pm, in Proudfoot Drive Community Centre.

AUTUMN FAIR: St Peter's Church Hall, Princess Street, Bishop Auckland, will hold an autumn fair on Saturday, at 2.30pm.

PANTOMIME DATE: Darlington drama group Stepps will be staging the pantomime Aladdin from November 20 to 24, at Darlington College of Technology, Cleveland Avenue. Tickets are available on (01325) 352349 or (01388) 778906.