TRY YOUR HAND AT A RACKET: ACKLAM TENNIS CLUB is offering free tennis sessions on Saturday, July 1, from 10am to 2pm.

The Lawn Tennis Association's Play Tennis initiative offers everyone a chance to try tennis in a free day at clubs across the UK. The Middlesbrough Club, at Acklam Sports Centre, in Hall Drive, will offer a range of activities, including coaching lessons and games. Rackets and balls will be provided. For more details, call (01642) 515628.

IN MEMORY: A competition has been launched in memory of a writer. Redcar Writers is starting the Joan Dalton Memorial Competition, an open contest for poetry and prose writers. Mrs Dalton was the group's founder and recently died aged 85. More details on the competition are available by calling (01642) 478699 or from www.communigate. co.uk/ne/redcarwritersgroup/index.phtml.

OPEN DAY: An open day at Askham Bryan College, Guisborough, will not only promote the prospectus for 2006-7, but is a celebration of the achievements of students over the past year. The event is being held in the college grounds next Thursday, from 10am until 7pm. A foundation degree in business is being offered for the first time, and enrolments for courses will be taking place on open day.

RELATIVES SOUGHT: The coroner for Cleveland wants to trace the family of 73-year-old Stanley Brookes, who was found dead at his home in Park Road North, Middlesbrough, on June 19. There are no suspicious circumstances. Relatives are asked to ring (01642) 243221.

BOOK SALES: Hundreds of books for juniors have been delivered to libraries in Middlesbrough, so older stock is now available at sale price. Book sales are being held from 3pm to 5pm today, 3pm to 6pm tomorrow, and 10am to noon at Berwick Hills Library, next to the Neptune Centre.

DANCE CLASSES: Ballet, tap, modern and stage dance classes are being held at Coatham Memorial Hall, in Redcar, every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. Beginners classes, which cost £2, are also held, from 2.30pm to 4pm. Call (01642) 508512 for more details.