Recently by Steve Bax

Families at the Jurgen Centre, Harvest Road, Englefield Green, showed off their hip-shaking skills during a day's hula-hooping on Tuesday 17.

The Hula Hoop Company entertained 15 families and their children aged one to 14 -showing them how to all get hula-ing in unison. An expert hula-hooper even showed them how to do tricks with a hoop.

The fun event was organised as part of the Haven Sure Start children's centre half-term activities.

Comedy in the Green returns on Tuesday (17), with top quality comics appearing at the Social Hall, Harvest Road, Englefield Green, from 7.30pm.

The popular stand-up comedy night, which contains strong language and adult themes, will feature headline act Micky Flanagan as he embarks on his 2009 tour What Chance Change?, with top quality acts in support.

Firefighters put out a wheelie-bin that was alight in Beechtree Avenue, Englefield Green, on Monday (9) at about 12.30am.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated and no-one was hurt during the incident.

A chocolate tasting evening is being held on Valentine's at Honeychurch Deli in St Judes Road, Englefield Green.

Co-owner and expert chocolatier, Paulet Kensey, will be making chocolates and explaining different forms of chocolate through history.

Tickets cost £20 and include a glass of pink champagne, samples of chocolates from round the world, a chocolate fountain and a goodie bag to take home. For more information call 01784 430439 or visit www.honeychurchdeli.com

Lighting is to be installed in an Englefield Green alleyway a year after a Royal Holloway student was assaulted nearby.

Surrey County Council has approved five street lamps and some lower-level lighting in the alleyway joining Larkfield to Blays Lane, a route regularly used by university students.

A residents group has compiled a detailed study on the present state of Englefield Green and how villagers would like to see it develop in future.

Englefield Green Village Residents Association (EGVRA) has handed its document to Runnymede Council and hopes to work closely with the local authority to achieve its objectives.

Suzy Talbot: I am the Multimedia Content Manager for the Herald & News series. I have spent most of my career as a journalist working on newspapers in Buckinghamshire with a stint in Surrey. I hope to become increasingly involved all our communities because this is where the heart of our newspapers and websites lie. Feel free to contact me about any issue on 01932 561111.

Vicki Eltis: I am the chief reporter for the Herald & News series. A few of my contacts have called me the 'bulldog' as I like to get my teeth into a good story and never give up. I'm passionate about my job and covering the Walton, Weybridge, Hersham and surrounding areas. Please email me at vickieltis@trinitysouth.co.uk

Mark Goode: I am the reporter for the Staines, Laleham and Stanwell areas. I know the trees and rivers of Surrey very well, and have spent countless hours rambling through its woods. I am a poet, a nature lover, and a purveyor of fine old-time American music - including pre-war blues and Dixieland. Please email me at markgoode@trinitysouth.co.uk

Emma Heseltine: I'm the reporter dedicated to covering stories from Addlestone, Chertsey and Byfleet, and the surrounding villages. This is my first reporting job and I've been writing about the area since 2007. I grew up and still live in Addlestone, so I know the area well. Email me or call 01932 561111.

Adam Courtney: I am a senior reporter covering the Sunbury, Shepperton and Ashford areas. If you have a happy, funny, sad, tragic or positive story, any story, little or large, that you think people ought to know about, drop me an email or give me a call on 01932 561111.

Rupert Basham: I am the Walton/Weybridge & Hersham reporter. I studied American Studies at Portsmouth University, which was very interesting but left me with two options; to go into teaching or journalism. I figured with a name like Rupert, journalism was probably a safer bet (kids are cruel). Please call me on 01932 561111 or email me

Russell Butt: I am the dedicated reporter for Egham and I also cover Woking for our sister paper, the Informer. I joined the team in May 2008 after ditching a job in software sales. Initially I covered Staines & Ashford, but since July have been getting know the great people of Runnymede and mixing with the communities in Englefield Green, Thorpe and Virginia Water. I can't be everywhere at once though, so if you have some news you think I would be interested in email me or call 01932 561111.

Other Useful contacts:

Steve Bax: I'm the website editor for the Herald & News series, having joined the group in 2002 and served as a reporter and news editor. I'm keen to recruit new bloggers for these sites, be they schools, clubs or other groups, or local people with something to say about their community. Call me on 01932 573233 or email
stevebax@trinitysouth.co.uk