A jury hearing the case of a man accused of raping a woman twice and indecently assaulting her, was discharged yesterday.

Judge Peter Fox discharged the jury at Teesside Crown Court, which had been hearing the trial of Peter Biggins, 30, of Brierton Lane, Hartlepool, who denies two charges of rape and one of indecent assault, on Friday, September 29, 2000. He said the complainant was no longer able to continue giving her evidence and the case was adjourned.

House fire: Firefighters in Redcar were called to a blaze at Kent Close on the town's Lakes Estate yesterday lunch time. They used two jets to put out the fire which caused severe damage to a washing house store room.

ADVICE SURGERIES: Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar will be holding two advice surgeries tomorrow. He will be at Loftus Town Hall from 5pm to 6pm and at the One Stop Shop in Brotton, from 6.30pm until 7.30pm. For more information, or to make an appointment call Dr Kumar's constituency office on (01287) 610878.

Education taster: Adults in east Cleveland are being invited to have a free taste of learning. There are more than 80 Bite- Size Intro courses running for the next five weeks at Redcar Adult Education Centre and Nunthorpe School each lasting for up to two hours. To find out more, call (01642) 490409 or to book a place call freephone 08080 200500.

CONCERT TIME: Saltburn Methodist Church will host a concert by Middlesbrough Salvation Army Citadel Band, with bandmaster Paul Gillson, at 7.30pm, on Saturday, May 25. Tickets cost £3.

Temporary lights: There will be temporary lights on Marske Lane and the High Street, Marske, on Sunday, to allow for an inspection of the bridge by Torrent Trackside.

boot sale: Guisborough Parish Church is holding a car boot sale in the church hall car park on Saturday, from 10am until 3pm. Inquiries and bookings can be made to Alan Martin on (01287) 630712.

Wheelchair hire: Redcar's Tourist Information Centre has a new aid for tourism - a wheelchair for hire. It will be available on a hire charge of £4 a day plus a £20 deposit. For information call (01642) 471921.