Blaze hits block of flats

A FIRE started by an unattended chip pan resulted in a block of flats being evacuated. Ten fire appliances and 45 firefighters were involved at the height of the blaze, at 4.15pm on Saturday, on the seventh floor of a 16-storey building, in Frederick Street, Stockton. A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said: "Fighting the fire was arduous and difficult due to the severity of the fire and the spread of smoke to other floors." The owner of the flat was treated in the University Hospital of North Tees for smoke inhalation.

COFFEE TIME: Teesside Asthma Group is holding a coffee morning on Saturday, at Marske Leisure Centre, from 10am to noon. Admission is 40p and includes tea or coffee, and a biscuit. The mobile asthma library will also be at the event, allowing people to hire books, videos and audio tapes relating to asthma, eczema and hay fever.

GOLF TUITION: Golf tuition for people of all abilities gets under way at Hartlepool's Mill House Leisure Centre next month. The six-week indoor evening course begins on Thursday, March 14, and runs until April 18. Professional Golfers' Association instructor Peter Jackson will help enthusiasts improve their game. The cost is £23 for Friends of the Centre, or £25 for non members. For more details, contact (01429) 223791.

TAKEAWAY PLAN: Councillors are being asked to refuse plans for a hot food takeaway, in Durham Road, Stockton. It is thought the site is too close to houses and will cause unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance. Members of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee will meet on Friday to discuss the proposal.

BUNGALOWS BID: Proposals to build two bungalows on the corner of Wolviston Road and Thames Road, Billingham, look set to be approved by councillors on Friday. Originally, three buildings were proposed, but this has been reduced to two detached bungalows.

CALLED OFF: A half-term library event for children has been postponed. Staff at Hartlepool Central Library were hoping to organise a games workshop on Wednesday, but people who were going to help have had to cancel and there is no one to take their place.