THE tinsel may only have been down a few days, but delegates at a Harrogate exhibition next weekend will be planning for Christmas 2003.

Buyers from around the world will decide what the must-have toy will be in December when they attend the first exhibition organised at the town's International Centre by the Harrogate International Toy Fair, from next Saturday. The event is closed to the public but hotels and restaurants will be bracing themselves for thousands of expected visitors.

CHURCH COURSE: Training will be offered throughout the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds for people in parishes given responsibility for monitoring and managing child protection policy. The courses are for clergy and lay people. They will be held from March 24 until April 8, on Saturday mornings and weekday evenings. To take part, call (0113) 2612468.

YOUTH GRANTS: Young sports players and artists are being urged to apply for grants under Harrogate's centenary grants scheme. The closing date for applications is Friday, January 31, and forms are available from Shelley Ogonowski on (01423) 556728.

KITCHEN CASH: St James's Church, Boroughbridge, has been given £500 by North Yorkshire County Council towards a new kitchen and disabled toilet facilities.

DRAMATIC CHANCE: Anyone whose New Year resolution is to take up drama is welcome at a coffee morning arranged by the Harrogate Dramatic Society today. The event, at 59 East Parade, from 11am, is open to members, as well as would-be thespians. For details, call (01423) 870903 or go online at www.hds-online.co.uk

MUSICAL DATE: Students at the Royal Northern College of Music perform at Harrogate's Wesley Chapel on Monday. Admission to the concert, at 1pm, is £1.50, with light refreshments served from noon.

CAROLS CASH: A village fundraising group has beaten its own record. The Poppleton Carol Singers raised £1,456 over the festive season. The group was formed more than 70 years ago and has records going back to 1925 - when they raised the then-princely sum of £9 16s 9d.

FLATS AWARD: The first factory-built affordable housing scheme in York has won a 2002 Design and Innovation Award from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. The flats scheme in Sixth Avenue, Tang Hall, was spearheaded by the Yorkshire Housing Group, in partnership with the city council.