THE county records office for North Yorkshire is gearing up for its third annual open day.

The event will take place between 10am and 4pm next Sataurday, at the record office in Malpas Road, Northallerton.

Visitors will be able to take behind-the-scenes tours, where they will get see the five miles of shelving that store records dating back to the 13th Century.

Experts will also be on hand to offer advice and assistance and there will be try-it-yourself sessions in the search room. Local societies will be manning displays and specialist publications will be on sale, and there will be three guest speakers.

Cooper Harding, of Thirsk Museum, will tell the real-life tale of Misiana, a Quaker nurse who journeyed from Thirsk to South America.

Archives manager Keith Sweetmore will explain how to trace family history and librarian Nigel Prince will talk about some of Yorkshire's most interesting wills.

Admission is free, but to listen to one of the talks, contact (01609) 777585 to make a booking.