SO John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, gave a V-sign to reporters outside 10 Downing Street (June 6). So what, some may say, those horrible people from the press with their intrusive, demanding questions deserve that sort of response. I listened
SO Jean Chilvers thinks feet and inches road signs are antiquated (Letters, June 3). I would think there are several million British citizens who think otherwise. At school, many people who are still alive today had pounds, shillings and pence; feet,
Le Meridien can show her rivals a clean pair of heels tomorrow at Beverley on a day when many of the jockeys will be journeying to Scotland in the evening for Hamilton's 'Saints & Sinners' meeting. Robert Winston, who will be among those heading north
MEMO to education chiefs: parents would like to see less politics and more applied mathematics. Not in the classroom, but in Whitehall and town hall. Our education service is in a muddle. It might even be in a crisis, but that depends on who you listen
AS one door closes, another one opens. While the row over the proposed closure of the Minster library continues, the council is proposing to extend the opening hours of York Central Library. It is good to see that the library ethos is still cherished
EMPLOYEES in York and North Yorkshire are too busy to go on holiday, it was claimed today. Research carried out by youatwork, the employee benefits division of Royal & SunAlliance, has revealed that workers in the region fail to take more than three
INDUSTRY officials from the region have expressed their fear that the rise in the minimum wage could send the wrong signals to workers. The government has decided to increase the national minimum wage by seven per cent from £4.20 an hour to £4.50. But
A SENIOR GMB shop steward at Nestl Rowntree is set to retire after 45 years with the company. To commemorate the occasion, George Tutill has commissioned York artist Mark Braithwaite to paint the GMB National College in Manchester. He will present the
Cricketers have been warned by police to be extra vigilant after an audacious thief snatched cash and valuables worth hundreds of pounds from a club in York. Members of Rowntrees Cricket Club were targeted by a confidence trickster while playing at Clifton
VALE of York MP Anne McIntosh has thrown her support behind the plight of North Yorkshire villagers battling to save their post office. Residents of Stillington, near Easingwold, have formed Stillington Community Association in a bid to buy the village
Following the news in yesterday's Evening Press that Selby Police's Community Safety Team is going to expand, reporter Alex Lloyd spoke to residents and traders in Selby town centre to gauge their views on local policing. PEOPLE on the streets of Selby
THE first head teacher of York's newest secondary special school was named today. George Gilmore will lead the teaching team at Applefields School, in Burnholme, from September 2004. He has been head teacher of Galtres School - which will close when Applefields
POLICE are hunting a man who attacked a "vulnerable adult" moments after being thrown out of an amusement arcade in Bridlington. The victim, a 19-year-old Bridlington man who has the mental age of a 12-year-old, was punched twice in the face during the
STATUES in the garden of Treasurer's House in York were today being treated for the effects of city pollution during two public demonstrations. Members of the public will also get a chance to see conservation in action tomorrow and Thursday when further
NORTH Yorkshire Service Area representative teams battled gamely in their matches against their Hull counterparts on Saturday, but all four York-based sides lost. The Under-13s and U12s games were played at York Acorn's Thanet Road ground, while the U15s
A COUPLE who last month celebrated a stunning election victory in which they both won seats on Selby District Council have got out of an embarrassing legal fix - thanks to a High Court judge. An administrative blunder landed Conservative councillors David
THE Government's "wait and see" decision on the euro has brought mixed reactions from business leaders and MPs in North and East Yorkshire and York. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which represents 12,500 businesses in the region, said Gordon
A YORK school has shown its artistic flair after been given a national award. Huntington School received the Artsmark silver award for its ability to provide a range of artistic opportunities. The bid was submitted to Arts Council England by head of art
NEWLY-CROWNED English ladies golf champion Emma Duggleby was today starting her drive to capture the British title. The Malton and Norton Golf Club ace was among a 138-strong entry list for the British Ladies Open Amateur championship at the Lindrick
More details have emerged of the injuries suffered by a Dringhouses family in a road crash in Huntington Road, York. A 42-year-old woman who had to be cut out of the car she was driving suffered hand and leg injuries while her husband is in York Hospital
NEW Harrogate Railway management duo Dave Harrison and John Francis are aiming to use their Leeds United connections to fire the Station Viewers to success. Harrison and Francis replace York-based Paul Marshall who was controversial asked to re-apply
A UNIVERSITY student alleged before a York jury that a nightclubber raped her within hours of them meeting for the first time. The 20-year-old woman said that she and Damien Robertson, 21, probably left York's Gallery nightclub hand-in-hand in the early
COMMUNITY leaders may have to miss out on attending a crucial meeting to discuss the future of a North Yorkshire early warning station because of a timetable clash. Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram will be at Thornton-le-Dale village hall from 7.30pm
Hospital porter Kevin Milnes thought his worries had finally come to an end when North Yorkshire police called him to say they had found his stolen moped. But when he went to pick up the battered 50cc Piaggio six days later from a York firm he was presented
A MAJOR East Yorkshire telecommunications company is up for sale. Convergent Telecom Ltd, one of the biggest employers in Pocklington, has suspended the trading of its shares on the stock market. The company, formerly known as JWE, employs more than 200
THE Jorvik Warrior, Jamie Warters is eyeing an all-action home-coming party, with his former sparring partner Denzil Browne being touted as a possible opponent. Talks are ongoing between Warters' manager/trainer Steve Pollard and promoter Colin Cain to
A MAN suspected of a £30,000-plus arson at a North Yorkshire pub allegedly tried to mislead police with a computer file, a jury heard. Prosecution barrister Paul Williams said that firefighters put out three blazes in a single night at The New Inn, Barlby
A MAN suffered serious head injuries after a row over loud music between residents of temporary council accommodation erupted into violence. Police said that Michael Bailey, 29, was attacked with a baseball bat at the Howe Hill council flats in Acomb
SIX-YEAR-OLD Millie Gaston has been trying out the fashions of the future in a warm-up for next month's Great Yorkshire Show. Millie, from Knaresbrough, enjoyed a sneak preview of the creations to be showcased on the catwalk next month in the fashion
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault in a York street early today. A man was attacked by six people outside Waterstones bookshop, in High Ousegate, at about 2.40am. He was taken by ambulance to York Hospital suffering from head injuries. One
VICTIMS of disgraced North Yorkshire gynaecologist Richard Neale are being urged to come forward with evidence - a move which campaigners for a public inquiry into the scandal say backs up their cause. Neale, of Langthorpe, near Boroughbridge, who worked
NEW figures show that the number of youngsters playing truant from York schools has rocketed by almost 200 per cent since 1997. But city education chiefs say the figures, which have been seized on by the Tories, do not give an accurate picture. A written
NEW figures show that the number of youngsters playing truant from York schools has rocketed by almost 200 per cent since 1997. But city education chiefs say the figures do not give an accurate picture. A written Parliamentary answer has shown 1,667 children
NEWCASTLE United will be playing at Bootham Crescent next season - if only for one game. York City's reserves have been pitched alongside a Magpies' second-string outfit in the Pontins League Division One (east) for the upcoming campaign. The other reserve
NEW figures show that the number of youngsters playing truant from York schools has rocketed by almost 200 per cent since 1997. But city education chiefs say the figures, which have been seized on by the Tories, do not give an accurate picture. A written
YORK schools could be facing cash shortfalls of up to five times more than first thought, as the true picture of the education funding crisis emerged today. Secondary schools could be losing out on an average of £75,000 - a five-fold increase on the initial
York City's new manager Chris Brass is the youngest in the football league for 50 years. STEPHEN LEWIS and CHRIS TITLEY ask other young high-fliers how they cope with life in the hot seat. NO ONE should underestimate the size of the burden that has been
YORK City Knights have announced they are to sponsor the newly introduced Shield competition in this month's York International 9s. The increasingly prestigious tournament, which will feature 26 teams from all over Europe, takes place at Heworth ARLC
The hit US TV show Sex And The City is to be re-made Britain. ZOE WALKER wonders what the show would be like if it was set in York A BRITISH version of the US TV show Sex And The City is to go into production. It will be called Denial and filming starts
An initiative to encourage more men to work in child care has been launched to tie in with Father's Day. MAXINE GORDON reports on York men who are making waves in a woman's world. AS HE approached 50, John Chapman fancied a change of career. The former
ALL those who love York and its surrounding churches despair at the deliberate cultural vandalism in the proposal to close the Minster library. Contrary to Canon Draper's comment, nowhere else so accessible and under one roof can be found the information
I CALLED at York Asda to buy cigarettes on my motorbike. I walked past the meet-and-greeter who said nothing about the fact that I was wearing my crash helmet. When it was my turn to be served, I was told that I had to remove my helmet, which I did. I
HELP! I've just been caught by the Third Age Police behaving inappropriately for an over-50 year old. My crime was that I was not legitimately, gently jogging with my loved one, in matching velour trackies and 'hi-tops', to see what the latest offers
NESTLE Double Cream, the York-based company's first new chocolate bar in five years, has scooped a major award. The chocolate won best new brand at this year's Marketing Society Awards. Nestl Rowntree also won best brand development for Quality Street's
RUDY Giuliani was the inspiring star speaker at the annual international business convention, held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. The former Mayor of New York, who won widespread praise for his actions in the wake of the September 11
A pioneering York business has welcomed government support for factory-built housing. Both Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and housing and planning minister Jeff Rooker have backed off-site manufacturing methods for building more affordable houses
YORK City Knights yesterday put on the most scintillating 20 minutes of rugby league Huntington Stadium has seen for many a year. The Knights had plugged away for almost 60 minutes against a talented Swinton side but, with luck having evaded them in the
A NORTH YORKSHIRE theme park will be packed out when more than 500 children take over for the day. Rotary Clubs throughout the county will treat the children to a day out at Flamingo Land tomorrow. The outing has been planned with Kids Out, the national
TWO Selby men are preparing to tackle the gruelling journey from John O'Groats to Land's End on their beloved bicycles. David Langham, 40, of Myrtle Avenue, Selby, and Jim Backhouse, 32, of Barff Lane, Brayton, will set out on their epic trip on Sunday
A NEW community centre on a York estate is set to open its doors. The Cambridge Street Residents' Association got the go-ahead from council planners in December to build the facility on a piece of derelict land off Holgate Road. Association chairman Tony
SELBY miners risk losing thousands of pounds in redundancy money if they back strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. UK Coal, owners of the 2,000-man Selby pit complex, say that miners who decide to support a series of one-day strikes could
PARTYGOERS could be flocking to York's waterways for a special "rivers festival" under new proposals set to go before city leisure chiefs. The latest City of York Council leisure scrutiny board report suggests the council looks for ways to encourage people
SELBY'S new community policing unit is set to expand following a successful first two months. Two additional community beat officers (CBOs) will join the team of seven who began their duties on April 7, providing a visible police presence across the district
A MAJOR Government grant should help tackle teenage pregnancies in Ryedale. The Department of Health's teen pregnancy unit has allocated £30,000 to Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale's primary care trust (PCT) to help it lower teen pregnancy rates. Money
The draws for the next rounds of Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale Cricket League's various cup competitions are Howarth Pulleyn Heselton Cup semi-finals (to be played on Sunday, July 6): Stockton & Hopgrove v Askham Bryan, Burn v Fulfordgate. Mitchell
Hospital porter Kevin Milnes thought his worries had finally come to an end when North Yorkshire police called him to say they had found his stolen moped. But when he went to pick up the battered 50cc Piaggio six days later from a York firm he was presented
Easingwold Cricket Club have reached the regional final of the English Cricket Board National Knockout Championship after a nail-biting seven-run victory over Rotherham side Wickersley. Easingwold batted first and scored 234-7 led by Paul Skilbeck, who
ACOMB Sports still hold a two-point lead in York White Rose Ladies' League division three despite being beaten by King William. Kath Cooper put the leaders 3-1 up but King William kicked into action with Pat Dickinson, Iris Haigh and a match-clinching
IN-FORM Knavesmire runner Cameron Brooks won the second 10km race in the York and District Road Race League based in Tadcaster. He beat Hywel Care (York Acorn) into second place, with Ian Anderson (Knavesmire) third. The big difference from the first
Bookworms will be able to feed their habit seven days a week if plans to open the York's Central Library on Sundays are given the go-ahead. Civic leaders are to consider opening the Museum Street library for an extra five hours on Sundays in a bid to
DUNNINGTON'S fine run in division one of the Tyke Petroleum Men's Tennis League continued with 63 games against nearest rivals Wigginton. Paul Birch and John Sumner inflicted most of the damage with 23 games. Riccall earned their first win, 59-49 against
CIVIL Service are the new leaders of the IT Sports Mixed Tennis League after beating visitors Wigginton 63-45. Wendy Cook and Howard Pallister secured victory with an 11-1 final rubber which saw their side leapfrog York at the top. Wigginton's Danni Baker
GOOD neighbours from the business community are being rewarded for offering a helping hand to smaller companies. The winner of the City of York Council's Good Neighbour Scheme will be announced tomorrow at York restaurant Melton's Too. The initiative
Police have confirmed that a North Yorkshire woman whose body was found at her home died of natural causes. Susan Reed McVicar, 42, was found at her home in Brewerton Street, Knaresborough, on May 1. A post mortem examination proved inconclusive, but
YORK City Knights have announced they are to sponsor the newly introduced Shield competition in this month's York International 9s. The increasingly prestigious tournament, which will feature 26 teams from all over Europe, takes place at Heworth ARLC
NEWCASTLE United will be playing at Bootham Crescent next season - if only for one game. York City's reserves have been pitched alongside a Magpies' second-string outfit in the Pontins League Division One (east) for the upcoming campaign. The other reserve
Villagers have banded together to try to protect a prized pub from closure after its owners applied to convert it to a house. Residents in Helperby, near Easingwold, have started a petition to try to save the award-winning Half Moon Inn, which has been
GUNNERS fire a 21-gun salute in York's Museum Gardens today to celebrate the birthday of Prince Philip. Members of a troop comprising gunners from 5 Regiment Royal Artillery, 22 Regiment Royal Artillery and 40 Regiment Royal Artillery paid the tribute
VILLAGERS have been putting their green fingers to work in aid of St Leonard's Hospice in York. The gardeners and flower arrangers of Colton, near Tadcaster, have been preparing for one of the major events of the village's year - the flower festival on
A WAXWORK effigy of Weakest Link presenter Anne Robinson has proved such a favourite with York Dungeon visitors that its stay has been extended by three weeks. On loan from sister attraction the London Dungeon for a 'guest' role in the York Dungeon's
YORK schools could be facing cash shortfalls of up to five times more than first thought, as the true picture of the education funding crisis emerged today. Secondary schools could be losing out on an average of £75,000 - a five-fold increase on the initial
THE mother-daughter relationship is a tricky old business. Most of us love our mums to bits but are still driven to the brink of dementia if we spend more than one hour in their company. It's not so much a love/hate relationship as a love/get-out-of-my
THE oak-panelled door closed almost silently, a stealthy shuzz followed by a click as it sealed the two men in the plush office. 'Sit down', came the voice from behind the desk. If not a bark, it was a growl. But its recipient was far from intimidated
The draws for the next rounds of Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale Cricket League's various cup competitions are Howarth Pulleyn Heselton Cup semi-finals (to be played on Sunday, July 6): Stockton & Hopgrove v Askham Bryan, Burn v Fulfordgate. Mitchell
A YORK school has shown its artistic flair after been given a national award. Huntington School received the Artsmark silver award for its ability to provide a range of artistic opportunities. The bid was submitted to Arts Council England by head of art
York Barbican Centre came alive with every type of music imaginable with BarbiCUBE, the spectacular finale to York's Live Music Festival 2003. Presented by Cube Media studios in association with the City of York Council Arts Service, it featured more
NEW figures show that the number of youngsters playing truant from York schools has rocketed by almost 200 per cent since 1997. But city education chiefs say the figures do not give an accurate picture. A written Parliamentary answer has shown 1,667 children
THIS week is supposed to have seen the beginning of the national debate on the issue of genetically modified organisms. The Government has launched the debate, but we would all have been forgiven for having missed it. The impression one gets is that questions
STEPHEN LEWIS talks to the minnows taking on the US military over its Star Wars project. Talk about David and Goliath. On one side you have the might of the US military and on the other, a clapped-out campervan, driven by two blokes named Neil and Sam
NOW that York MP Hugh Bayley has said, "It is high time the Gurkhas were treated in the same way as everyone else in the British Army" (June 5), I hope he will be lobbying for these brave men, who have served Britain loyally for years, to also be granted
