ORGANISERS of a North Yorkshire gala are banking on fine weather for Sunday's event - it has been forecast by their newly-appointed fortune teller.

Officials of Masham Gala, near Ripon, had to put out an SOS for a fortune teller in an effort to maintain the tradition of crystal ball gazers.

Until the eleventh hour it seemed as if their pleas had gone unanswered.

However, Alexandra has come forward and will take up residence in a caravan on the recreation ground where the fundraising event is being organised by Masham Sports Association.

No sooner had the event secured Alexandra than another fortune teller offered her services. So Gabrielle is now on standby should anything unforeseen prevent Alexandra from giving help and advice to clients.

Gala secretary Sue Whitehead said: "Fortune telling has been such a tradition of the event that we did not want to let it drop. But we had difficulty in contacting the lady who used to come."

Alexandra, who specialises in tarot reading, has already told officials the event will be blessed by fine weather on Sunday, when proceedings start with a car boot sale at 7am, followed by the gala at 1pm.