A PROGRAMME teaching people how to become experts in dealing with health problems began in County Durham yesterday.

The Expert Patient Programme is a national scheme developed by the Department of Health, which offers courses to help people cope with long-term conditions, including arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes, heart conditions, multiple sclerosis and mental health problems. People in Durham and Chester-le-Street who are facing such problems were offered the chance to take part in a local programme at its launch last month. More than 55 people went along to find out more, and inquiries about courses are still being received. Yesterday, the programme, run by Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust, began at Bullion Hall, Chester-le-Street. Courses will take place over six consecutive weeks, with each session lasting about two-and-a-half hours. For more details, contact Fiona Anderson on 0191-333 3988.

OPEN GARDEN: Richard Heron and his daughter, Susan Winfield, will open their gardens at 12 and 13 Durham Road, Middle Herrington, between 2pm and 6pm, on Sunday, July 21, in support of the British Red Cross Open Gardens Programme. Visitors will be able to stroll through an Elizabethan-style knot garden and enjoy the scent from hundreds of roses. Admission is £2 for adults, and free for accompanied children. Refreshments will be available.

IDEAL EVENT: More than 9,000 Sunderland tenants who are having their homes modernised over the next two years by Sunderland Housing Group, were invited to view the improvements to be carried out at an Ideal Homes-style exhibition at the Stadium of Light.

PRIZE CENTRE: Ouston Community Centre has been named centre of the year by the Durham Association of Youth and Community Organisations. The centre was picked for its varied programme of activities and standard of facilities.

LORD'S LECTURE: The fourth Hermitage Education Lecture, at Hermitage School, Chester-le-Street, was delivered by the Right Honourable Lord Macdonald of Tradeston yesterday. Lord Macdonald was made a life peer in October 1998, and before joining the Cabinet Office, was the Minister of State for Transport and Minister for Business and Industry at the Scotland office. He spoke about learning and education, drawing from his experiences in politics and the media.

SHADES DAY: Pupils at Belmont Comprehensive School will don sunglasses for the day to support a fundraising campaign by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, on Tuesday. Every youngster and teacher will pay £1, and the money raised will be divided between the association and the school.

BAGPIPES CONCERT: The Great Highland Bagpipe and the MacCrimmon Tradition - A Gentle Introduction for Sassenachs will be presented by Stephen Martin at the Fulling Mill Museum of Archaeology, Durham, tonight, at 7pm. Tickets are available from the museum, on 0191-374 3623, and cost £6, including wine, strawberries and cream. All proceeds will go to the Friends of the Fulling Mill Museum.

JUBILEE TEA: A jubilee tea will be held at Redwood Lodge, School Lane, Durham City, on Tuesday, July 23, at 2.30pm. There will also be a tombola and a raffle. All proceeds will go to St Oswalds' Guides Company. Admission is free.