Four injured in two-car crash

FOUR people were hurt, one of them seriously, when two cars were in collision on the edge of Middlesbrough last night. Firefighters cut two people from the wreckage, one of them, a man, was admitted to hospital with head injuries. A man and two women were described as walking wounded. The collision occurred in Lawson Close, North Ormesby.

LIFEBOAT LAUNCHED: Hartlepool Inshore Lifeboat was launched on Saturday to a small boat that appeared to be in difficulty off the lifeboat station. The two people aboard restarted the engine and proceeded to sea on a fishing trip.

CANTEEN DESTROYED: A portable canteen at Marlow Foods, Billingham, was destroyed by a fire, which started at about 5.30pm on Friday.

SUPPORT GROUP: Consultant ophthalmic surgeon Mr DL Smerdon is to address the Teesside Glaucoma Support Group at the North Riding Infirmary, Middlesbrough, on January 19. To find out more call (01642) 313977.

Blowing trumpets: Egglescliffe School, with its accolade-winning orchestra, is once again to host a regional festival of music by young people. Instrumentalists and singers are invited in March to the first stage of the Music for Youth National Festival, the highlight of which is taking part in the Schools Prom, at the Royal Albert Hall, where the school, near Stockton, is no stranger.

LEADERSHIP STEPS: Off-site training courses, to teach teachers and youth workers how to manage walks and sessions with youngsters, have been organised by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Youth and Community Service, in partnership with Cleveland Scouts and in association with Tees Valley Local Authorities.

LIGHTS DELAY: Temporary traffic lights are continuing to control the flow of traffic in Longbeck Road, New Marske, at its junction with St Andrew's Road and Birkdale Road. This is to allow Northumbrian Water to replace a sewer network.

Taster sessions: Drop-in sessions for parents and toddlers will be launched by West Redcar's Sure Start programme at the Redcar Youth and Community Centre, Ayton Drive, Redcar, today.

Double act: Husband and wife team Andrew and Paulina Jeff are directing Saltburn '53 Drama Group's presentation of the pantomime Cinderella at the resort's Community Theatre. The first curtain call is on Thursday, tickets are available by either ringing (01287) 622246 or 623584.

DOUBLE Bard: Stokesley School, Stokesley, is staging two plays written by William Shakespeare next month and another by one of his contemporaries. They are The Taming of the Shrew, Love's Labours Lost and Thomas Middleton's The Changeling. Tickets are available from the school.

Bird appeal: The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is appealing to people in the area to put out food and water for birds visiting gardens during the winter