Angler is fined for illegal catch

A fisherman found with double the legal limit of rainbow trout he was allowed to catch from a reservoir has been fined more than £200 by magistrates.

Michael Craggs, of Woodland View, West Rainton, near Houghton-le-Spring, admitted possessing ten fish in his tackle bag and another seven in a bag in the back of his car - in excess of the eight to which he was entitled. Magistrates at Bedlington fined him £220 and £75 costs.

Bowburn WALK: An easy walk of about two miles along the bridle paths of West Bowburn will leave the car park of Bowburn Community Centre at 11am on Sunday. It is the latest in the Footsteps to Fitness programme of walks run by the Durham and Chester-le-Street Lifestyle Initiative.

WOMEN HURT: Two women were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, one by ambulance and the other by air ambulance, following a collision between two vehicles in Robin Lane, West Rainton, at about 8.20am yesterday.

ARTWORK DISPLAY: A display of monoprints, plaster work, glass paintings and clay work created by students on the Learning First art and craft course, at the Shinwell Centre, Peterlee, runs at East Durham and Houghall Community College's Peterlee site, in Essington Way, for the next four weeks.

FOLK GATHERING: The Beamish Mary Folk Club meets tonight at 8.30pm when the guest act will be the Happy Cats. Admission costs £1. For further details call 0191-370 0237.

STEPPING OUT: A tea dance will be held today in Sherburn Sports Centre between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Admission costs £1.30. Details are available from the centre or by calling 0191-386 6921.

DONOR SESSIONS: Blood donor sessions will be held today at Fulwell Methodist Church, Dovedale Road, Fulwell, Sunderland, between 2.30pm and 7pm and at the United Services Club, Front Street North, Prudhoe, also from 2.30pm to 7pm.

MINISTER'S TALK: Lord Gus MacDonald, Minister for the Cabinet Office, gave the fourth annual education lecture at The Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street.

MORE ROOM: Durham City Council is being asked to give planning permission for a two-storey extension to a house in Douglas Gardens, Durham.

FUN DAY: A family fun day was held to celebrate the first anniversary of the Back on the Map Partnership, a £54m scheme to regenerate Sunderland's Hendon and East End areas.