UNINSURED DRIVER: Darlington man Liam Martin Carrick was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay a fine of £220 and costs of £72 after driving without insurance last September. At Darlington Magistrates Court, his licence – which already had six points on it - was endorsed with a further six penalty points, meaning automatic disqualification. Carrick, of Milton Street, Darlington, said he had assumed the person who sold him his car had taken care of the insurance arrangements and apologised for wasting court time.

SPORTY TEENS: Youngsters are invited to try their hand at a number of sporting activities at Darlington Dolphin Centre. The Zone, which offers 11-17-year-olds the chance to try out activities including swimming, badminton, table tennis and dance, begins on Friday, January 17 and runs every Friday from 7pm until 9pm. Entry is £2 on the door or £1.50 with a Teen Card.

PHOTOGRAPHY TALK: A meeting of the Historical Society at the Friends’ Meeting House in Darlington will feature ‘Snooping on Snaps’, a talk by Julian L Harrop from Beamish Museum about detail in photographs. The event takes place on Wednesday, January 15 from 7.30pm.

WOODLAND WALK: Darlington Ramblers will lead a nine-mile walk through field paths, woodland and tracks to Scargill via Hurst Hill, Haythwaite and Brown Hill on Sunday, January 12. Walkers should meet at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College at 9.30am.