SCARBOROUGH'S St Nicholas Hotel, one of the biggest in the town, is to be given a £500,000 revamp. Owners British Trust Hotels are to upgrade and refurbish much of the hotel including its public rooms and bedrooms. Hugh Hendry, the general manager, said: "The work is part of a major investment by the company in its 26 hotels around the country to mark its centenary."

CAR TARGETED: Thieves smashed a window to steal a cassette player from a Ford Fiesta parked in South Parade, Croft-on-Tees, at the weekend. The incident is thought to have happened on Friday night.

HOUSE VANDALISED: Intruders forced their way into an empty property in Richmond's Castle Hill some time in the past two weeks. The burglars broke a window to get inside before searching the rooms for valuables. Nothing is thought to have been stolen but the owners found paint splashed on the back door and an outside wall when they returned home, on Saturday.

VANDALS WARNED: Two youths have been warned about their behaviour after they were caught setting fire to newspapers left around Leyburn's recycling bins on Saturday evening. Police put out the flames before they spread. Officers gave both youngsters a dressing down in front of their parents.

BIKER hurt: A biker needed treatment after falling from his machine on a Dales road at the weekend. The accident happened on the A6108 near Marske, in Swaledale, at lunch time on Sunday. The rider, who has not been named, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

PLANT SALE: The next meeting of Husthwaite gardening club takes place on Saturday, April 20, at 10am, in the village hall. A plant sale, one of the club's main fundraising events, will be held on the day.

OPEN DAY: The playgroup at Melmerby, near Ripon, is holding an open day in the village hall on Saturday, April 13, from 10am to noon.