Help for young swimming star

Swimmer Christopher Surtees, from Crook, has received help from the local Rotary Club to pursue his ambition to compete in this year's Commonwealth Games.

After winning medals in the Luxembourg International Open and Junior International Swimming Contest, in Hamburg, the 16-year-old pupil at St John's RC School, Bishop Auckland, is being sponsored by Crook Rotary Club and will be presented with £250 on January 7, at the Fir Tree Country Hotel, near Crook.

SQUIRREL SINGSONG: Cyril the Squirrel is holding a sing-a-long at Darlington Art Centre on Wednesday. The event is suitable for children aged four to seven. It will run from 10.30am to 12.15pm, and the cost of tickets is £5.

FUNDRAISING DINNER: A sportsman's dinner organised by Darlington Bondgate Round Table raised £2,859 for St Teresa's Hospice. The event was held at the King's Head, Darlington, and featured former England and Leeds United football star Norman Hunter as guest speaker. Darlington Memorial Hospital was presented with £600 raised at the event.

CHURCH SERVICE: A Christingle service is being held at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington, on Sunday, January 6. The service will start at 4.30pm and will be followed by evening prayers at 6.30pm.

JAZZ COURSE: A course on the history of jazz is being organised by the Workers Educational Association in Darlington, from January 22. Anyone who is interested in joining the course, which lasts eight weeks, can obtain further details by telephoning (01325) 357801.

NAMES CHOICE: Sedgefield villagers are being invited to suggest names for streets on the Netpark development, on the former Winterton Hospital site. Suggestions can be sent to Sedgefield Borough Council's offices in Green Lane, Spennymoor, or to Sedgefield Town Council, to arrive by January 7.

CHILDREN'S PLAY: Pop-Up Theatre will be bringing children's play Starry Starry Night to Bishop Auckland Town Hall on January 24. The play is suitable for children aged three to seven. Tickets cost £3.50.

FLOWER POWER: Action Research, a charity dedicated to raising money for medical research, raised £360 with a Christmas flower arranging demonstration led by Kathryn Hume, at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church.

GARAGE DAMAGE: A garage door in Northlands Park, Trimdon Grange, was sprayed with graffiti early yesterday, causing £120 of damage.

PLATES STOLEN: The number plates of a green Rover 200, registration P251 ABB, were stolen from Rectory Row, Sedgefield, between 7pm on Wednesday and 11am yesterday.

VANDAL ATTACK: The jet wash unit at the Total service station, St Cuthbert's Way, Newton Aycliffe, was vandalised between 8pm on Christmas Eve and 10am yesterday, causing £500 worth of damage.