A NEW town councillor is needed at Pickering.

Following the disqualification from membership of Chris Woodvine because of lack of attendance at meetings, the council is seeking applications from residents for the vacant seat. Town clerk Andrew Husband said no request had been made by electors for a poll so the council was able to co-opt a new member.

SKIPPING CHALLENGE: Children from Arkengarthdale School, with their parents and grandparents, joined the national Jump Rope for Heart campaign. They completed 20,000 skips in 30 minutes and raised £579. £435 was given to the British Heart Foundation and the remainder will be used to buy school equipment.

CHARITY NIGHT: The Whitestonecliffe Inn, at Sutton, will host a charity auction on Sunday, from 8.30pm. Proceeds will go to the Sutton Village Hall project and Thirlby Playing Field Fund.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: A bazaar will be held at South Kilvington CE Primary School, on Saturday, from 10am to noon.

BUS SERVICE: A mini-bus service starts this week at the fishing village of Staithes. Run by Whitby Good Neighbours Community Transport, the bus will ferry residents from the bottom of the village up the steep bank to the mobile library. It is planned to expand the service in the future say the organisers.

BLOOMIN' TOWN: Green-fingered workers in Thirsk grabbed their spades and began planting hundreds of bulbs for next spring to enhance the approaches to the town. Residents raised nearly £40 to show their gratitude to the gardeners from Thirsk in Bloom.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC: The Sundial Singers have put together a Christmas programme, which will be performed at Danby Wiske Church on Thursday, December 12, in aid of Hambleton Citizens' Advice Bureau. Tickets are available at Greensleeves in Northallerton,, priced £5.

CAR BOOT: Pitches are available for a car boot sale held by the Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre, Bond End, Knaresborough. The event will take place on Sunday, between 10am and 2pm. Stalls cost £3 per pitch. For information contact Damian Woodford on (01423) 541888.

PAPIER MACHE: Shirley Hudson will be holding an arts class next month, where visitors can learn how to make bowls and sculptures in papier mache. The class will take place at Henshaws Arts and Crafts, Bond End, Knaresborough, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Wednesday, December 4, and costs £10 per person. To book call (01423) 541888.

WINTER WONDERLAND: Scarborough town centre will be marking the start of the festive season with a weekend of wonderland treats. On Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, visitors can enjoy music and entertainment as well as shopping and the snow blizzards which will be descending from the skies. Youngsters can visit Santa in his grotto, enjoy a reindeers' parade or get their faces painted free of charge.