Chance to visit German 'twins'

SEAHAM Town Council is organising two trips to its German twin town, Gerlingen, next year.

The first will be in July, for Gerlingen's music festival, and the second will be in September, for the Strassenfest. Both trips cost £105. For details, call the council on 0191-581 8034.

DUTY CHEMIST: The duty chemist for the Horden and Peterlee area on New Year's Day will be Boots, The Chare, Peterlee, which will be open between noon and 1pm.

OFFICE PLAN: Hamsterley TMO Ltd is seeking planning permission from Derwentside District Council to convert an empty house at Derwent Haven, Hamsterley, into a tenancy management office. The development control committee is being recommended to approve the application.

ON COURSE: Brian Oram, a voluntary warden at English Nature's Castle Eden Dene reserve, at Peterlee, has gained an NVQ level two in environmental conservation after taking a course run by Community Environment Education Development.

ADVICE SURGERY: Chester-le-Street district councillors Isabel Howey and Jeanette Reed and Durham county councillor Joe Knox hold advice surgeries for people in Pelton Fell on the second Tuesday of each month, between 6.30pm and 7pm, in Pelton Fell Village Hall.

PLOT REFUSED: Durham City Council's development control committee has refused planning permission for a resident in Oatlands Way, Pity Me, to turn a neighbouring piece of open space into a garden. Councillors decided it would be detrimental to the area's visual amenity.

DRAWING COURSE: A drawing course, led by Linda Birch, will be held at the dli, formerly the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, Durham, on Tuesdays January 8 and 15, between 1pm and 3.45pm. Sessions cost £7.50. For details, call 0191-384 2214.

DANCE NIGHT: Durham Indoor Bowling Club will be holding a 50/50 dance tomorrow, at its centre in Abbey Road, Pity Me, between 8pm and 11pm. Admission costs £2. For details, call 0191-384 0700.

NEW PROGRAMME: Pittington Photography Club is starting its third year with a programme that begins on Monday, January 7, at 7.30pm in Pittington Village Hall. For details, call Ian Jobling on 0191-372 1943.

TIME TRAVEL: Leadgate's Alan Godfrey Maps has published a large-scale Ordnance Survey map of Houghton-le-Spring in 1895. It is available from bookstores, priced £2.10, or from the company. For details, call (01207) 583388.

NEW PASTURES: Robert Haslam, assistant director of human resources with the North Durham Health Care Trust, has left after ten years to take up a new post.

NEW STRIPS: Sacriston Junior School's football team has new strips, thanks to the Parents' Action Group. The team enjoyed a successful autumn term and finished joint top of its league.