TICKETS go on sale on Monday for Berwick Kaler’s 37th panto at York Theatre Royal - with fans expected once again to queue through the night.

Dick Whittington And His Meerkat will be the first production to take place next Christmas following the theatre’s £4.1 million re-development.

The box office will open an hour early on Monday, when staff will serve tea and coffee to loyal fans, who have often queued through the night to secure their favourite seats.

Queues also regularly wind round the corner of St Leonard’s Place and into Duncombe Place.

Tickets will be available online at approximately 6pm the same day, with phone booking opening on Tuesday at 9am.


MP battles windfarm subsidies

YORK Outer MP Julian Sturdy has launched a campaign against taxpayer funded subsidies for windfarms, after city councillors refused to allow a turbine on farmland near Kexby.

Mr Sturdy wants to change the law which he said allows “otherwise uneconomic” onshore turbines to take resources away from other more practical forms of renewable energy.

He said: “I have previously joined communities in fighting off plans for wind turbines in Copmanthorpe, Wheldrake, the Poppletons and Murton and this latest proposal for Kexby was just yet another example of developers trying to impose their turbines on local communities who simply don’t want them.

“This is unacceptable and we need to end the current system whereby developers pocket highly lucrative taxpayer funded subsidies and communities are stuck with wind turbines blotting the local landscape.”

Other technologies, like wave and tidal energy, offshore turbines and solar panels could offer much more renewable energy in Yorkshire without harming the countryside, he added. Mr Sturdy’s campaign invites people to pledge their support for an end to onshore wind subsidies, after the Prime Minister David Cameron announced his intention to scrap them within six months of the election.

For more information visit www.juliansturdy.co.uk/windfarms.


Story retelling will be no book day flash in the pan

HUNDREDS of pupils at York schools will be celebrating World Book Day in a different way this year.

On Thursday next week about 750 pupils from city schools will be taking part in a ‘flash retelling’ to help mark the annual international day.

Pupils will be retelling a traditional tale they have learnt off by heart at 10.30am on the day.

Cllr Janet Looker, cabinet member for education, said: “World Book Day is a great opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the joy that books can bring to all people. I look forward to hearing the children take part in their flash retelling and I wish them the best of luck.”

World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of books and reading, marked in over 100 countries all over the world.


Cyber summer school

A SUMMER school run by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), will be held in North Yorkshire this year.

Northern Exposure 2015 will give 30 people the chance to take part in a six-week cyber summer school and find out how the internet works, and how GCHQ uses it to protect the UK from a range of cyber threats.

The summer school runs between July 13 and August 21 in Scarborough, is open to UK nationals aged 18 and over, and is aimed at anyone who enjoys learning about new things and solving problems. The course could lead to an apprenticeship, summer internship, or a job interview.


Find out about fostering

East Yorkshire residents who are thinking of fostering can find out more through a short film featuring some current foster carers.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is hoping to recruit more foster carers, particularly for children aged from five to 15.

There will be a “Find out about fostering” event will be held at Tickton Grange Hotel, Tickton, near Beverley, on Tuesday, March 10, at 6pm.

There will be a chance to talk to fostering social workers; meet foster carers and their birth children; talk to looked- after young people and hear about their experiences; and also find out about free professional training.

Potential foster carers can also find out more by watching the film on the website at: www.eastriding.gov.uk/fostering.

Prospective foster carers should ideally be over 25, and can be single, married or co-habiting.

People with or without families, heterosexual, lesbian or gay, can be foster carers.

Contact 01482 396673 for information or to book a place at the event.


Israeli human rights worker to speak at public meeting in York

AN ISRAELI human rights worker will speak at a public meeting in York about her country's occupation of Palestine.

Ruth Edmonds, advocacy officer for the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, a human rights and peace organisation, aims to give a unique insight into the current situation in Palestine and Israel, and the future prospects for a just and peaceful resolution as Israeli elections loom on March 17.

The meeting, which takes place at 7.30pm next Wednesday at the Quaker Meeting house in Friargate, is being organised by the York Branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the University of York Palestinian Solidarity Society.


Eco homes event at St Nicks

Householders can show off how they have made their homes more eco-friendly at York's first Open Eco Homes event in May.

Organisers from St Nicks charity are looking for people who have reduced their carbon footprint by installing equipment such as solar panels, heat pumps, more efficient window glazing, draught-proofing, insulation or low energy lighting or other methods in their homes.

They want the householders to open their homes between 1pm and 4pm on May 16 or May 17 or on both dates to other people who want to learn about how they can reduce their home's carbon footprint.

Anyone interested should phone the charity on 01904 411821 or email info@stnicks.org.uk. This year's event is funded by Green Open Homes network and is backed by Yorkshire Energy Partnership, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and City of York Council.

Event co-ordinator Ivana Jakubkova said: “Finding the right advice on how to improve your home can be a challenge, which often gets put off as we need to get on with life. This event will enable people to talk to those who have already done it, see the difference it’s made to their homes and get advice on how to get started. It’s also an opportunity to show off your eco home and share your experiences!”


Farmers in charity muck chuck

MEMBERS of Escrick Young Farmers held their annual muck chuck when they toured the village selling barrel loads of farm manure to residents.

During the three-hour stint, they delivered 120 loads raising £310 for charity. The cash, along with amounts raised from other events, will be donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, another charity and club funds.

Chairman Josh Smith said: “We had a good turnout of club members and thank villagers for their donations.”