University date for pop icons

Pop icons The Pet Shop Boys will be paying a visit to Middlesbrough next month as part of a nationwide university tour.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe will preview songs from their new studio album at the University of Teesside students' union, on Tuesday, February 12, at 7.30pm. For ticket information call (01642) 342234.

NEW PLAY: Adults are invited to see a new play at Cleveland Theatre School tomorrow and Wednesday. Modern Heart - which contains strong sexual references and explicit language - is written by Paul Carney and tells of a mother who returns to college to escape her life as a housewife. Performances, at Billingham Synthonia Club, Belasis Avenue, Billingham, begin at 8pm on both nights, and tickets, costing £3.50, can be bought at the door

KITCHEN fire: An electrical fault caused a fire in the kitchen of a house in Chelmsford Avenue, Hartburn, Stockton, on Saturday. A couple came out of their living-room at 9pm to find smoke billowing from beneath the kitchen door. They dialled 999 and two engines from Stockton fire station arrived to extinguish the blaze. The kitchen was severely damaged.

Lottery award: The newly-formed Burn Valley North Residents' Association, in Hartlepool, has been awarded a grant of £1,400 from the National Lottery backed Awards For All. The group hopes to improve the community in which residents live, tackling crime, safety, housing and environmental issues. The award will be used to buy office equipment and fund publicity.

CHIP pan FIRE: An elderly woman had to be given oxygen by firefighters after a fire broke out at a house on Thorington Avenue, Ingleby Barwick. The flames - started by a chip pan - were out by the time two fire engines arrived from Thornaby fire station at 7pm on Saturday. Firefighters ventilated the property, which suffered smoke damage.

SMOKE DAMAGE: A tea towel left to dry on a boiler started a fire at a house in St Andrew's Road, New Marske, Redcar yesterday. The fire in the kitchen of the house had been extinguished by the time firefighters arrived. There was damage to the outside of the boiler and smoke damage to the house.

Swap shop: A Harry Potter coin swap shop will be held at the Asda store, in Thornaby, on Saturday, January 12, from 11am to noon. All children must be accompanied by an adult and the swap shop will be held in the store's cafe.

BIN BLAZE: Vandals set fire to a recycling bin full of paper in Stockton on Saturday afternoon. Firefighters from Stockton fire station extinguished the blaze in Richardson Street