A FREE bike marking event in will be held in Darlington’s Market Square on Monday (February 17).

It is being run by Local Motion in conjunction with Darlington Borough Council and the police, and will take place between 1pm and 4pm.

Councillor David Lyonette, cabinet member for transport, said: “Cycling is an excellent way to get around and with more and more people choosing to cycle in Darlington, this event is a great opportunity for cyclists to take proactive steps towards crime prevention.”

For more information, call anti-social behaviour officer Rebecca Timmiss, on 01325-346831.

AWARDS MADE: Seven residents at Sir E.D.Walker Homes in Darlington have received gift vouchers of £20 each. The vouchers were provided by the Almshouse Association through a Christmas fund established in 1958 by the businessman and philanthropist Major A.E.Allnatt. To qualify, the recipients had to be aged 90 and over on December 25. Peter Willson, chairman of the trustees of Sir E.D. Walker Trust, said: “We are delighted we have so many residents who qualify for the voucher. One of them has been living here for 20 years, and between them they have clocked up 95 years at Sir E.D. Walker Homes.”

ROTARY CLUB: President Ken Young presented to members a review of the club’s recent activities during a recent meeting of Darlington Rotary Club. Income levels from various fundraising events into the clubs charity account amounted to £18,000 with the major input from the amateur golf, charity bike ride, and 10km road race. This had enabled local donations amounting to nearly £10,000 plus £8,000 to international causes. Included in these are St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington Multiple Sclerosis Society, Corporation Street School, Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital, Rotary Trust for aid to the Philippines, The Bangladesh Club Foot Appeal and Shelter boxes for the destitute in Syria.

DOG POO: A special online Police and Communities Together (Pact) meeting to discuss dog fouling in the borough will be held on Wednesday (February 19) from 5pm to 6pm on the Darlington Neighbourhood Police Teams Facebook page. To take part in the meeting search Darlington Neighbourhood Police Teams on facebook.com

MAYOR’S PLAN: Darlington mayor Charles Johnson will attend an event hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society, at Sedgefield Racecourse, at 7pm, on Wednesday (February 19).

OPEN MIC: an open mic night for authors will be held at Voodoo Cafe/Cantina, in Skinnergate, on Thursday, February 27, at 7pm. Admission costs £3 at the door. The event offers a forum for writers to read aloud their material to an audience.

SINGING STARS: Singers aged between three and 18 held a singalong at the Forum, in Borough Road, raising more than £1,150 for Zoe’s Place baby hospice in Middlesbrough.

FLOWER MEETING: Janet Hayton gave a demonstration to members of Darlington Flower Club at the group’s first meeting of 2014. The next meeting will be the annual meeting, at St Cuthbert’s Church Centre, on March 5, at 11.30am. It will be followed by a ‘bring and share’ lunch, followed by a demonstration entitled Seeds of Creation.