A WOMAN was rescued by a lifeboat after being swept out to sea on an inflatable bed near Scarborough.

Emma Cox, 20, of Hunmanby, was drifting out to sea at Hunmanby Gap when she was spotted calling for help by a passer-by. Filey's inshore lifeboat picked her up half-a-mile offshore. She was taken to Scarborough Hospital suffering from mild hypothermia. The RNLI and Coastguard and Maritime Service issued warnings to holidaymakers to take extra care especially over the bank holiday weekend. Rescues in the past week in the Scarborough and Filey area have cost an estimated £75,000 to the emergency services, including an RAF Sea King helicopter, lifeboats and coastguards, said a coastguard spokesman.

COMEDY CLUB: The Grand Opera House, in York, is teaming up with Jongleurs Comedy Club to bring the stand-up comedy next month. Jongleurs - the name which launched the careers of Graham Norton, Jo Brand and Paul Merton - will be providing a regular series of shows at the theatre. The first will be on Sunday, September 7, at 8pm and features comedian Smug Roberts. Tickets cost £10 and are available on (01904) 671818.

CARERS MEETINGS: The Carers' Groups in Hambleton and Richmondshire resumes its programme of meetings next month, with the first on Tuesday, at 7.30pm, for Northallerton carers, at the Cottage Meeting Room in the Methodist Church. Stokesley carers will meet the following day at 2pm at the CCA Offices. Thirsk carers start their programme on Tuesday, September 9, at 6.30pm, at the Alzheimer's Society, 23 Chapel Street.

RELAXING TALK: Catterick carers meet on September 29 at the St Johns Centre, in Shute Road, at 7.30pm. Sheila Wilkinson will give a talk about relaxation and aromatherapy.

SUN GAZING: The York Observatory in York Museum's gardens will be open to the public on Monday and Tuesday to give people a chance to observe the sun in more detail. Using the observatory's telescope, images of the sun will be projected on to a screen where people will be able to observe sunspots.