VOTE EARLY: Polling in the elections for a Mayor of London will take place over four days in an experiment designed to make sure the turnout is as high as possible.

In addition to the main polling day of Thursday, May 4, electors will also be able to vote on April 27, 28 and 29.

In Harrow, voting on those days will be possible between 7am and 9pm at a special polling station in the main entrance lobby of the Civic Centre in Station Road.

In Brent, polling stations will operate at the Town Hall in Forty Lane, Wembley, and Willesden Green Library Centre, High Road, Willesden Green, during the same times on the same days.

Harrow and Brent form a single constituency for the GLA elections, but voters will be allocated to only one of the special polling stations. Which one is noted on the personal poll cards being delivered by the two councils.

TYNEHOLME WINNER: Nathini Juvanendran, a pupil of Elmgrove First School in Kenmore Avenue, Kenton, has won Harrow Council's Tyneholme Award for Creative Writing for 2000.

Six children were shortlisted for the award, launched in 1977 by Monica Forcer, former headmistress of Tyneholme Nursery School in Headstone Drive, Wealdstone, and revived by former Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Keith Toms in 1997.

The finalists were invited to a presentation ceremony at the Civic Centre hosted by the current Mayor, Councillor Ann Groves.

The other finalists were: Laura Lipton from Whitchurch First School; Louise Morrison, Longfield Middle; Sarah Hills, Cannon Lane Middle; Judith Gordon, Hatch End High, and Molly Porter, Nower Hill High.

NET BENEFIT A chance to surf the internet to see how businesses are promoting themselves on the worldwide web is being offered by the NW London Chamber.

The event is being held at the Learning Hub, part of the NW London Colleges Consortium, at Crescent House, Wembley Park Drive, Wembley Park, at 6.30pm on Wednesday next week.

It will be hosted by Nick Robin, general manager of the consortium and 70 computers will be available for surfers.

The cost, which includes a buffet, is £10 for chamber members and £15 for others. To book a place, contact Alan Hayes at the chamber on 0181 901 5053.

VSO RUNNER: Matthew Clare, a building consultant from Harrow is running the London Marathon on Sunday in aid of the chairty Voluntary Service Overseas.

'I've always wanted to run a marathon and I've always admired the work VSO volunteers do overseas, so running it for them was the perfect thing to do, said Matthew, 30.

Training for his first marathon has kept him busy four or five nights a week, but a recent knee injury has set him back. His aim is to finished the course in under three-and-a-half hours.

To sponsor him, ring VSO on 0181 780 7218.

CHARITY RESULT: Fabric daffodils sold in NW London have helped to raise more than £11,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Volunteers delivered the flowers to shops, schools and businesses in February and collectors took to the streets on March 18. More than £100,000 was raised in London.

Area fundraiser Gina Grundy thanked all who helped achieve 'such a marvellous result'.

EASTER CONCERT: HaydnÍs Creation will be performed by the orchestra and augmented choir of St Alban's Church in North H

TV STAR: Nicky Baker, a pupil of Whitmore High School in Porlock Avenue, South Harrow, appeared in two recent episodes of BBC1's Grange Hill.