Drugs found in raid and 10 other news snippets you may have missed

Officers raided the property, in Elmfield Avenue, on Tuesday and took the 23-year-old into custody before releasing him on bail.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “A quantity of cannabis was located and a number of items seized. A 23-year-old-man from York was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug.”

Next of kin sought

POLICE are searching for the family of a man who died in East Yorkshire.

John Thomas Higgs, 84, of Lyth Close, Bridlington, was discovered dead at his home address by Humberside Police on Thursday, March 26.

A Humberside Police spokesman said Mr Higgs’ death was not being treated as suspicious, but officers had so far been unable to locate any of his family.

The spokesman said police believe Mr Higgs had an estranged sister.

He urged any relatives or friends of Mr Higgs to contact the Coroner’s Office on 01482 613009.

Serving the law

A RETIRED bank manager has spoken of his pride and pleasure in administering justice in York. Bernard Everitt was speaking on his last sitting day after 13 years as a magistrate.

“I think it is a real privilege to do this job and try to do something to serve the community,” he told fellow magistrates, lawyers and others in the York legal community.

“You do learn more things about the city you are living in and what goes on in it and you get a bit more tolerant when you realise the kind of lives some people have and the difficulties some people have to deal with.”

Representatives of the CPS, defence lawyers and probation officers praised his fairness.

Daughter’s Tour tribute

THE daughter of the late Beryl Burton, one of British cycling’s biggest stars, will be taking to the saddle for a mass participation cycle ride for women along the route of the Tour de Yorkshire.

Denise Burton-Cole, herself a leading cyclist, will be taking part in the 50km Tour de Yorkshire Ride Cycletta on May 3. She rode alongside her mother for Great Britain in the 1972 World Championship and won bronze in the 1975 World Individual Pursuit Championship.

“I can’t wait to be part of it,” Denise said. Her mother won about 100 national championships and set a women’s record in the 12-hour time-trials, which beat the men’s record for two years.

Nearly 300 women have already signed up for the event. For more information, visit letour.yorkshire.com/tour-de-yorkshire/sportive

Warning on bogus calls

CONMEN are making phone calls claiming to be police investigating bank fraud.

Officers are warning people to be on their guard after a resident in Ripon answered a call from a man claiming to be a detective who was looking into a fraud on his bank account and asked for details including a PIN number. He was asked to call back on 101 to verify his identity, and when the victim did, the line was re-routed back to the suspects. The victim did not give out any bank details and he reported the incident to the police.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “We are warning members of the public not to be taken in by this scam. A police officer will never ask for your bank account security details. Don’t ever give your bank details to anyone who calls out of the blue. Please also ensure you have a dialling tone before you make another call from your phone.”

Anyone who wants to report a fraud can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Scientist shortlisted as ‘innovator of the year’

A SCIENTIST from the University of York has been shortlisted for a national award.

Professor Ian Bancroft is an expert in plant genomics at the university’s Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP), part of the department of biology.

He is one of nine finalists in the 2015 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Innovator of the Year competition, in recognition of his work in crop improvement.

Professor Bancroft said: “The technology we developed has enormous potential for delivering impact through crop improvement.

“It is very pleasing that our efforts to promote this have been recognised.”

Winners in each category will receive a £15,000 award to support their research, training or other activities promoting economic or social impact.

The overall winner will receive a further £15,000.

Judges will announce the winner later this month.

Vintage fair back in town

YORK Does Vintage is returning this weekend with a fair at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

The event on Sunday will run from 10.30am until 4.30pm and include stalls selling clothes, accessories, cooking utensils and homewares; a beauty parlour and music from the DooWop Dollies.

Entry costs £2, half price with a York Card or free to those dressed in vintage style.

For details, visit www.britaindoesvintage.co.uk

Pandas’ Easter event proves a real winner

THE Lord Mayor of York Cllr Ian Gillies has judged a competition at an Easter Fayre.

Cllr Gillies, accompanied by Lady Mayoress Pat Gillies, judged decorated bonnets and eggs at the fayre, which was hosted by Copmanthorpe’s Panda Playgroup this week.

Mel Suttill, playgroup leader, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to our Easter fundraising event to choose the winners. Competition was strong with nearly 100 entries.

“Panda Playgroup has been part of Copmanthorpe for over 30 years and, as a registered charity, we work hard to raise £5,000 each year to help keep the playgroup going. The Easter fayre was a great success, bringing the community together and raising just under £250.”

Bella Robson won first place for her age group in both the Easter bonnet and decorated egg categories.

Woman on fraud charges

THE Selby area daughter of a deceased miner, whose pension was allegedly paid for five years after his death, has appeared in court.

Susan Seacombe, 62, is accused of failing to tell the Mineworkers Pension Scheme that her father, Gordon Haslam, had died on October 12, 2012. She is also alleged to have signed cheques to herself on her father’s account in his name between December 14, 2008, and January 20, 2011, and transferred money into her own account.

The prosecution allege that by not telling the scheme about the death between October 2012 and January 1, 2014, she obtained £11,755 through the forged cheques.

Seacombe, of Saltmarshe, Goole, did not enter a plea to two charges of fraud. York magistrates sent her to York Crown Court for trial. She is due to appear on April 10 for a preliminary hearing.

Garden transformation

AN AWARD-winning garden created by rare plant hunters has been transformed with a series of paths and seats for visitors to view the attraction.

Work to add to the 20-acre Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, has seen its collection swell to more than 60 sculptures, 500 species of rhododendron, more than 1,000 hybrid rhododendrons and 120 magnolias.

The garden’s owner, Peter Roberts, has been developing the attraction for more than a decade and has supported trips to the Himalayan area to add to the wild-origin plant material already in his collection, much of which had been supplied by eminent Himalayan plant hunter Alan Clark.

In recent years, there has been a drive to increase the number of choice perennials in the gardens .

Top television chefs take part in Good Food Show

THE BBC Good Food Show Spring is returning to Harrogate from April 10 to April 12 and will fill four halls with food products and gadgets and dedicated food producer areas, plus this year the new Great Taste Market.

Other highlights will include the Deliciouslyorkshire area and Good Food Champions, and appearances from TV favourites Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, the Hairy Bikers and James Martin, as well as 2014 Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle, from Hull.

Nancy will be cooking in the Supertheatre on Friday, April 10, with chef Brian Turner.

Beverley-trained Peter Sidwell, who has worked at some of York’s top hotels will be at the show on Saturday, April 11, with live Q&As on the interview stage.

Visit www.bbcgoodfoodshowspring.com for more information.