BIRSTALL: The Birstall Men's Pantomime Group is presenting Dick Whittington from February 16.

The all-male group has been staging pantomimes for more than 50 years and was started by the late John Valentine.

The current producer is Richard Tinley, who plays the Dame.

Tickets are £5. For more information and tickets, telephone 0116 212 2513.

Oadby: Local author David Bell will be talking about Leicestershire Murders Past and Present at Oadby Library on Thursday February 4 from 12.15pm until 1pm.

Tickets cost £2 each or 3 for £4. Light refreshments will be available.

For information and to purchase tickets, call the library on 0116 305 8763.

EVINGTON: A lichen survey will take place in Evington Park on Saturday January 23 from 12.30pm to 1pm. This is a national survey to monitor air quality.

Volunteers will be assigned a tree to look for specific lichens and complete a chart. Come along with your friends and learn about lichens. Contact Penny Brown on 0116 273 9992.

BROUGHTON ASTLEY WI: What a welcome relief from the cold the magician Joy Henderson brought to the first meeting of the New Year. She started with an amusing story with a twist on words and cheered us with a variety of tricks.

From Rubik's cube to card tricks and a Tommy Cooper stunt with bottles and glasses, we laughed our way through the evening.

Audience participation was a must, and resulted in one lady shooting balloons with a banana and another having a sword thrust through her neck.

Old Dalby: The Clever Cloggs Quiz takes place on Saturday January 23 at 7.30pm.

Bring along your preferred drink and nibbles some knowledgeable friends and £2 per person. No need to book or have a team of six as you can team up with other quiz goers.

GREAT BOWDEN: Flautist Kathryn Cartwright will give the next Great Bowden Recital Trust concert on Sunday, February 7, in the village church.

She performed at the first concert arranged by the GBRT six years ago – since then 20 more recitals have been held.

She will also take part in a Play, Listen and Learn workshop for the trust the same weekend.