Scarborough is to be twinned with the Irish town of Cahir after councillors this week decided on an official link.

The decision follows a decade of links involving a wide range of organisations from both towns making exchange visits and Cahir being closely involved with Scarborough's former Irish Festival. Cahir, which has a population of 3,000, is close to Limerick and Waterford.

ENERGY CHECK: Over-60s in the Harrogate area are being offered a free home energy efficiency check by the local council and Help the Aged. Forms will be available in the charity's shop in Beaulah Street.

LIBRARY CLOSURE: The library at Strensall, near York, has closed for a major £130,000 improvement project which will see it double in size. During the redevelopment, the area will be served by a mobile library.

ROAD CLOSURES: Motorists in the Northallerton area are being warned of the temporary closure of a number of roads in and around Kirkby Sigston for five days from Monday to allow extensive resurfacing work to be carried out.

FARMING FORUM: The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group is holding its bi-annual forum at the Sundial on Northallerton's Darlington Road from 1pm on Friday, November 29. The theme is farm diversification and planning and a number of experts will be present.

FESTIVE FUN: Romanby WI has its Christmas whist drive at the WI hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday. Admission will be £1.

ART AWARD: The Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate has received £1,750 from the Woodmansterne Art Conservation Awards for the conservation of a 19th Century painting of the river Nidd at Knaresborough by John Buxton Knight.

PARKING CHAOS: The running track at the Heslington campus of York University has had to be turned into a temporary car park as construction work at two sites on the campus has caused chaos for local motorists.