PROBLEMS with vandalism seem to have calmed down, members reported to Acting Sergeant Brian Coates when he attended their meeting on Monday.

Councillor Vera Robinson reported that the village hall committee was about £100 short in meeting its budget because its grant from Durham County Council had been reduced to five twelfths of the previous year's figure. Her proposal that the parish council meet the shortfall for the year was approved.

Coun Charge reported that everything had been ordered for this year's Guy Fawkes event on November 9. The bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm with fireworks at 7pm.

Coun Diamond reported that the spa would soon be ready for an official opening, suggesting that Coun Robinson performed the ceremony, to which she agreed.

Thanks were extended to Merle and Jim Batty, who are retiring from the Queen's Head pub , for their gift of two benches for the play area.

* Full report in tomorrow's Darlington & Stockton Times.