Hotels alerted to burglary risk

Hotels have been urged to be on their guard following burglaries at two in North Yorkshire during the past few days. Intruders smashed windows at both The George at Piercebridge and Hartforth Hall, before attempting to make off with cash from the tills.

Anyone who may be able to help police with inquiries into either break-in can telephone (01609) 789321 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

PLANTING BOOST: Res-idents of North Stainley, near Ripon, will benefit from a cash hand-out from the Small Projects Fund, set up by environment charity Yorventure. The grant of £3,300 will pay for planting schemes and seating to make the most of the village's ponds and green space. The local Cross Keys pub has boosted the fund by £330 through a quiz night and villagers are pooling their skills to carry out the work.

CATHEDRAL DATE: York sculptor Harold Gosney, who created the Ripon Bronzes - three copper sculptures on display in the city's cathedral - has a date there on Sunday. He will speak to the Friends of Ripon Cathedral about his work in general, but particularly about the bronzes, which comprise Mother and Child, Mother and Son and Mother and Baby. Admission to the talk, which starts at 3.30pm, is £2.

QUIZ NIGHT: A quiz in aid of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations at Maunby, near Thirsk, will take place on Sunday, at 8pm, in the Buck Inn. Teams of up to six people are invited to enter.

INTERNET GUIDE: A beginners' guide to the Internet session will take place at Catterick Garrison library on Tuesday, from 10am to 11.30am. The session is free, but places should be booked by telephoning (01748) 833543.

SPRING PLAY: Hutton Rudby Choral and Dramatic Society's spring play will take place in the village hall from April 4 to 6. Performances of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of A Christmas Carol start at 7.30pm each night. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Janet Tibbett on (01642) 700449.

MAYOR'S SUCCESS: The Mayor of Northallerton, Councillor Sally Anderson, and six other women from the Weight Watchers charity have raised £800 for the North Yorkshire Dyslexia Association. The money came from a sponsored slim.

WORKERS' DATE: The national conference of the Association of Community Workers will take place at York Council for Voluntary Services' premises, on Priory Street, on Monday, March 25. The guest speaker will be John Lowe, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation