A Staines choir will be celebrating 100 years of existence tonight (Saturday 20) as it puts on a special concert.

The Staines Salvation Army choir, known as the Staines Songsters, will be holding the special concert at the Salvation Army building, in Woodthorpe Road, Ashford.

A bonfire went out of control on the afternoon of Saturday March 13, causing a small blaze to an overhanging tree.

Fire fighters from Staines were called to St Paul's Road at around 2pm, after the rubbish fire had spread to foliage.

On arrival, the man had already put out the flames.

Pupils from Shortwood Infant school had a chance to watch seven chicken eggs hatch into baby chicks last week.

The children at the Stanwell New Road school were given ten eggs and an incubator by the Living Eggs programme on Monday March 1, and they began hatching on the Friday (5).

Jellyfish, sharks, freezing water, and oil-spewing ships may be some of the obstacles six girl guiders may have to face as they swim the English channel this summer.

Team Twenty Ten are planning to swim 21 miles from the English to French coast in July, to celebrate the Girlguiding Centenary and to raise money for charity Street Child Africa.

A professional film maker has created a four minute movie of Shortwood Infant School to try and move council bosses to keep it open.

James Shanks, 37, created the documentary-style promotional video at the Stanwell New Road school two weeks ago.

Two young friends from Kingscroft Junior in Staines will be running for charity this Sunday (March 21).

Sophie Simpson, 11, and Harrison Kent, 10, who both attend the Park Avenue school, will be running the Sport Relief Mile at Feltham Community College and are hoping to raise £250 to go to vulnerable and needy people.

A theatre group which has been around for more than 50 years is putting on its first play ever which centres around the paranormal.

The Staines Players, who were created in 1952, is putting on 'A Murder Has Been Arranged' in April, which is about a man named Sir Charles Jasper, who stands to inherit a large sum of money if he can survive a night in a haunted house.

Spelthorne Civic Pride volunteers will clean rubbish from the River Thames tow-path on Sunday March 28,

Volunteers will meet in Ferry Lane, Laleham at 10am to pick up the litter.

For more information, contact Jill Stephens on 01932 564543.

Bob Calder will give a talk on the gardens of Japan at the next meeting of the Thames Valley Horticultural Society.

The event will take place on Thursday March 25 in Christ Church Hall, in Kenilworth Gardens, Staines.

Visitors price is £1 and the event starts at 7.45pm.

For more information, ring June Gough on 10784 452 422.

Six Spelthorne schools started a competition on Saturday (6) for the chance to win their very own allotment.

The competition, which is co sponsored by the Staines Informer was launched at The Elmsleigh Shopping Centre and will see pupils competing for a raised bed allotment and seeds, gardening equipment and expert advice on how to get started.

Pupils from Buckland Primary School, in Berrycroft Road, Staines, Kingscroft Junior School, in Park Avenue, Staines, Manorcroft Primary School, in Manorcrofts Road, Egham, Shortwood Infant School, in Stanwell New Road, Staines, Hythe Primary School, in Thorpe Road, Staines and Stanwell Fields School, in Clare Road, Stanwell, will be encouraging people to vote for their schools.