From our archives:

85 years ago

The “Yorkshire Herald” announced that in two days’ time, a scheme of one-way traffic would be in operation in Coney Street, York, from 10am to 6pm every day except Sundays.

According to the Chief Constable at the time this was an experiment to clear congestion, and to stop complaints from people with offices and business premises in the street.

The people of York were also still showing a keen interest in the welfare of everything that appertains to Malton at the present time.

The suggestion that there should be a memorial fund bearing the name of Dr Parkin had aroused the sympathy of the citizens, and as a result of a sale conducted by Mr Arthur Lawson, FAI, at the County Sale Rooms, York, £5 had been forwarded to Lord Middleton, who was now the head of a newly created fund.

50 years ago

A 1,750ft long steel suspension bridge at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, had collapsed under the weight of bumper-to-bumper traffic, dumping about 100 cars and lorries into the icy 70ft deep waters and on to the frozen banks of the Ohio River.

Divers and rescue boats working under searchlights recovered 12 bodies and 22 injured survivors.

It was feared that the final death toll may be as many as 100.

One official said that the actual total number of dead might never be known.

York Market was once again a buzz with Christmas shoppers.

With greenery in abundance, York residents could pick up a good size bunch of holly for 2s.

It was bad news however for those wanting a goose for their Christmas dinner, as geese had become scarce everywhere.

And a self-service launderette, Launderama, in East Parade, Heworth, had closed as precautionary measure because staff could smell the fluid used for dry-cleaning.

20 years ago

A former school at Hutton Buscel, between Pickering and Scarborough, had been officially reopened as a village hall.

The listed school building which had closed in 1959, had been given a complete new facelift after residents raised a whopping £42,000.

A new ban on sales of beef on the bone had been branded a “nightmare” by police.

As well as the ban, shoppers in Malton received an unexpected Christmas bonus from angry farmers protesting over their plummeting farm income.