A CONCERT in aid of Richmondshire district council chairman Councillor James Kendall's charities, will be held in Swaledale on January 11.

The evening, at St Andrew's Church, Grinton, features Reeth Brass Band, the parish choir, Mark Walters and Lucy Lundberg, and starts at 7pm. Tickets are £4, from Coun Kendall, on (01748) 884251, or Jackie Walker, at the council's headquarters, Swale House, Richmond, telephone (01748) 829105. Proceeds go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Northallerton and district branch of Diabetes UK.

JUNIOR DISCOS: More junior discos are to be held in Ryedale after the success of a recent event at Malton's Milton Rooms. The under-18s discos will be on Friday, January 24, at Pickering and Saturday, February 15, at Malton. For tickets, call (01653) 697195.

GET CYCLING: Transport chiefs in York are urging people to make a New Year's resolution to get on their bikes. It follows a national report suggesting the nation's health and economy could be at risk from inactive lifestyles.

RAILINGS BATTLE: A fight by Knaresborough Town Council to prevent ornate black railings and matching entrance gates from being erected to the south-east of Knaresborough Cemetery in York Road, suffered a setback when the scheme was given planning approval by Harrogate Borough Council.

STAR GAZING: The Scarborough and District Astronomical Society is holding a public observation night at their centre in Low Dalby, tonight, from 7.30pm. It is the first in a series of planned events.

SANTA'S TOTAL: The sum of £4,621 was collected by the Rotary Club of York Ainsty's annual mobile Father Christmas float collection, The cash will go to local charities and the Third World.

PHOTO AWARDS: Paul Cooper, a photographer based in Huntington, York, has been awarded the title of commercial and fashion photographer of the year by the Master Photographers' Association.