More than 550 miles of roadworks will be removed by the Highways Agency for the Easter bank holiday. The agency aims to complete or lift 209 sets of roadworks to ensure the majority of roads will be clear for the bank holiday.

Sections of the work include two miles of the A64 near Pickering, about half a mile of the A64 at Barton Hill near Malton, 1.4 miles of the A64 at Askham Bryan, and 2.9 miles of the A64 between Staxton and Seamer, near Scarborough – all of which will be completed by April 2.

For the full list, go to highways.gov.uk/traffic

 

Malton man named Clay Shooter of the year

MONDAY night in Sheffield, Paul Chaplow of Malton, was named Clay Shooter of the Year by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association.

Paul was one of three finalists, along with Steve Scott and Ed Solomons.

In 2014, he garnered his fifth European title, as well as hitting his 100th 100/300 (perfect score). His closest competitor has achieved less than 60.

Paul will be kicking off the 2015 season next weekend at Fauxdegla Shooting Ground, in North Wales, for the Castellani Grand Prix.

 

Exploring non-999 transport

A PILOT scheme which will explore alternative non-emergency ambulance transport services has been awarded more than £100,000.

The Department for Transport has agreed to fund a proposal by North Yorkshire County Council for the Vale of York Patient Transport Pilot, covering Ryedale and Selby, worth £121,000.

The scheme will investigate ways of replacing some non-emergency ambulance transport services with alternatives, including use of volunteers and council transport fleets.

Richard Owens, the council’s assistant director integrated passenger transport, said: “This pilot will look at utilising different forms of transport to give patients more convenient journeys and accommodate a wider range of transport users for such services as taking people to renal clinics, out of contact patient transport, hospital discharge and GP hospital referral.”

The scheme will not affect people in emergency situations.

 

Tour de Yorkshire volunteer appeal

Scarborough Borough Council is looking for people who want to get involved in the Tour de Yorkshire. Volunteers are needed by race organiser Welcome to Yorkshire and the council is keen to make sure people have the opportunity to be part of stage one of the event on Friday, May 1.

Janet Deacon, Welcome to Yorkshire area director and Scarborough Borough Council tourism manager, said: “There are people from our part of the world who missed out last year who I know are keen to be a part of the race, so this is a great chance for them to get involved in a world-class cycle race, right on their own doorsteps.” Visit letouryorkshire.com/tourmakers

 

“Parched March” raises funds for hospice

A PICKERING fundraiser is raising a glass to her friends after they helped her raise more than £1,000 for St Catherine’s Hospice.

Angie Macdougal, the widow of Ian Macdougal, was sponsored to give up alcohol for a month. She has been a big supporter of the hospice since Ian died in St Catherine’s last year.

“Ian would have thought it was hilarious that I was going without wine for a month, but I was determined to do it and people were generous,” she said.

Angie’s fundraising was boosted by a heads and tails game at the Hartoft Shoot dinner, which added £264.

Ian’s daughter, Jeni, was so inspired by Angie’s efforts that she is having her own “Parched March”. Money she raises for going a month without alcohol will be split between St Catherine’s and her local hospice in Berkshire.

Angie is now turning her attention to Bring a Pound to Work Day. She will be joining teams from the hospice and Yorkshire Coast Radio in dashing round on March 31, collecting donations from workplaces.

Donations to Jeni’s Parched March can be made at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jenimacdougalpovey

 

Baby and toddler group hold giant wiggle

HELMSLEY Baby and Toddler group held their own sponsored “Giant Wiggle” in aid of Action for Children.

Twelve families had a fun morning with activities and food based on the story by Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The morning ended with a sponsored wiggle round the church with children, and adults if they wished, crawling through fruit, collecting pictures of food and posting it in the caterpillar’s mouth before entering a tunnel and emerging with a butterfly.

The children and adults had a fantastic morning and raised more than £200 for the charity, Action for Children.

Helmsley Baby and Toddler group meets every Wednesday morning during term time in the Methodist school room.