A HORSE box was destroyed by fire on the A169 at Sleights, near Whitby, yesterday afternoon.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said the blaze was started by an electrical fault, and no animals were harmed. 


Drugs seized by police

POLICE arrested two men and seized drugs, after stopping a car in York.

The car was pulled over in Foss Bank at 12.25am on Sunday.

North Yorkshire Police said the two men were arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.
 

Charity fire walk

THIRTY brave supporters of York Blind & Partially Sighted Society will take part in a fundraising fire-walk tomorrow evening at the Coppergate Centre.

The volunteers, who include two visually impaired members of the society, hope to raise a minimum of £2,600 for the society by walking bare foot over hot coals reaching temperatures upwards of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
 

Wall crash drama

A MOTORIST crashed into a wall after falling ill at the wheel.

The accident happened in Lords Moor Lane, Strensall, on Friday night.

Police said on twitter that the driver had a “lucky escape”, bouncing through a ditch and then hitting a wall.
 

Seagull rescued in Bridlington

A SEAGULL stuck in kite string in a tree in Bessingby Road, Bridlington, was released by firefighters on Saturday.
 

Blaze man rescued

FIREFIGHTERS led a Goole man to safety and gave him oxygen after he was found in the smoke-logged front room of a property in Parliament Street, Goole.

Humberside Fire & Rescue Service said a pan of food left unattended had been smouldering on the hob, causing smoke logging which activated a smoke detector.

The casualty was taken to hospital for a precautionary check after the incident on Saturday evening.


Road markings in Harrogate changed after safety concerns raised

NORTH Yorkshire County Council has decided to change controversial road markings on the Hookstone Road approach to traffic lights in Leeds Road, Harrogate, after numerous people raised safety concerns and asked for the original layout to be brought back.

The new markings had been created as part of a new road layout for a Marks and Spencer’s development on the former Nidd Vale Motors site.
 

Work of former city leader is honoured

York Press:

A COMMEMORATIVE photograph of the late former York council leader Rod Hills will be unveiled at the Barbican on Wednesday.

The Trustees of the Rod Hills Memorial Trust Fund, which provides financial assistance to students attending the University of York, say there has been no public recognition of Cllr Hill’s work for the city since his death in 2003.

“Rod Hills devoted his political life to the citizens of York as an elected member of the city council, of which he was leader for 18 years until 2002,” said trust chairman John Yeomans.

He said a photograph would be placed in the entrance to the Barbican, the building of which Rod gave strong support.

Members of Rod’s family, the current council leader, Labour councillors, former council officers and donors to the memorial fund have been invited to attend the unveiling.

Cllr Hills, was a University of York academic who died in 2003, aged 57


Archbishop of York to preach at memorial service in Uganda

THE Archbishop of York is to preach at a memorial service in Uganda today for Janani Luwum - the man who ‘propelled’ him into the church. Dr John Sentamu is attending the International Celebration of Archbishop Janani Luwum at his home village and burial site in Mucwini.

Dr Sentamu said: “Archbishop Luwum was a great friend, a determined shepherd and a remarkable leader. When I finished my degree in theology, it was he who propelled me into the Church.”


OAP given oxygen

AN ELDERLY woman was given oxygen by firefighters after a fire involving a heat pad in a microwave oven at a property in Hanover Court, Mintfields Road, Beverley, on Saturday evening.

The fire activated a smoke detector. Firefighters disconnected the microwave from the power supply and removed it to the open air.
 

Gas interference

VANDALS interfered with gas cannisters and bagging at farm sheds at a property in West Haddlesey, near Selby, overnight on Wednesday.


Man accused of burglary

A 30-year-old man, David Scott, of Neptune Drive, Bridlington, has appeared before magistrates, accused of burgling a property in Canton Villas, Bridlington, and was remanded to go to Hull Crown Court.

Humberside Police are appealing for the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of property taken from the house including a black coral ring, a three coloured gold wedding ring, an eternity ring with purple stones a diamond and gold ring and a Google Nexus tablet.


Luxury care home up for top prize

York Press:

A CARE home near York has been named as a finalist in an awards scheme.

The William Wilberforce in Pocklington has been nominated as a finalist in the best care home category at the forthcoming Pinder Healthcare Design Awards 2015.

Bernard Kennedy, director of the care home, said: “We are most flattered to have been recognised by the Pinder Judges.

The culmination of years of experience and collaborative work with skilled and innovative architects has resulted in a facility which provides affordable luxury living for our residents. The greatest compliment we receive is that our residents say that they do not feel they are living in a care home.”

Completed in 2013, the William Wilberforce is set in the former grounds of Pocklington School.

It has been designed to evoke the appearance and elegant calm of a highly-starred hotel.

The winner of the Pinder Award will be announced at an event at the Lancaster Gate Hotel in London in March.


Award nomination for health worker

A HEALTH worker in East Yorkshire has been nominated for a national mental health award for the third time.

Sharon Watts will go to the House of Lords on Wednesday, February 25, where winners of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England Award will be presented with their certificates for exemplary work in the field of mental health.

Sharon is the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's public health lead on mental health, suicide prevention and school nursing; and her nomination praises her hard work tackling discrimination, raising awareness of mental health problems and helping council workers and volunteers to look after their own mental health.


PPI scam warning 

PEOPLE in East Yorkshire are being warned about a possible Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scam.

Humberside Police said householders appeared to be receiving telephone calls from companies claiming to specialise in refunding wrongly sold PPI but asking for an initial payment to be made using a ‘Ukash’ voucher.

“Once the victim has purchased a Ukash voucher and handed over the unique code to the offender, the value of the voucher is claimed and the victim does not receive the promised PPI,” said a force spokesman. “Ukash is a genuine company which is used to pay for goods and services online but only with the approved merchants listed on their website.”