A CORONER has called for better signs on a busy North Yorkshire road following the death of a motorcyclist.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded by Michael Oakley, North Yorkshire East Coroner, on a 30-year-old despatch worker of St John's Avenue, Scarborough, who died when his 600cc Yamaha machine left the A64 road and hit a tree as he left a sliproad at Norton. Mr Oakley said the Highways Agency should erect better warning signs on the right-hand bend on the sliproad.

FUN RUNS: The 14th annual 10km and 5km fun runs at Snape, near Bedale, will get under way at 11am on September 28. Local secondary and primary schools are competing in the runs, which follow a course out of the village and cross surrounding countryside before returning. Home-made refreshments will be available at the village institute before the presentation of the trophies. For more information and entry forms contact Mrs A Donaldson, Low Park Farm, Snape, Bedale, DL8 2RP, or call (01677) 4670522.

SCHOOLREUNION: Anyone who went to Northallerton Grammar School in the 1970s is invited to a reunion at the Golden Lion, in the High Street, on October 5, at 7pm. The organisers were at the school between 1974 and 1976 when they were known as Sharon Neale and Carol Brown.

OLD MACHINES: The North Yorkshire Vintage Machinery Society is holding its next meeting at the Lodge Motel, Leeming Bar, on September 17, at 7.30pm. New members, both junior and senior, are welcome.

NEPAL STORY: Elizabeth Barrie will be talking about her life and experiences in Nepal at the next meeting of the Northallerton NHS Retirement Fellowship, which will be held in the conference room of the Friarage Hospital, on September 10, at 2pm. All retired NHS workers are welcome.

FREE CHIPS: The National Canine Defence League has teamed up with Harrogate Borough Council to offer free microchipping for all dogs belonging to people who are on benefits or pensions. To others, the service will cost £9.50. The unit will be at Victoria Grove carpark, Ripon, on September 10; the Co-op, in Jennyfield Drive, Harrogate, on the 11th; the Maplebeck pub car-park, on the 12th, and opposite the Lounge Hall, in Harrogate, on the 13th.

ROAD CLOSURE: Motorists in Northallerton are being warned about the temporary closure of a section of Springwell Lane for a railway bridge inspection between 8am and 4pm on September 15.

DANCE DATE: Double AA American Linedance are holding a country and western night at the Civil Service Club, Catterick Garrison, on September 14, from 7.30pm. For ticket information call (01748) 833844.

Urban art: A new art installation, Incline: by Trudi Entwistle, is to be installed in St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, for September 8, 9 and 10. The work is intended to change the road into a "sculptural green street".