AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire.
From the outside, you cannot help but look at the last game of the season versus Middlesex at Lord’s, although there is still a lot of cricket to be played up until then and Middlesex got over the line in good fashion this week and are playing some good cricket.
When you get to this stage of the season, you talk about holding your nerve and we have been there before.
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For us, Leesy is coming into some form and Lythy is and me now as well and, hopefully, we can use that to really start hitting our straps.
I was happy to contribute with 83 in the Roses game at Old Trafford. I wanted three figures and was desperate to get there, but I did occupy the crease for a long period of time and in the context of the game, it was an important knock and I was pleased to get runs.
Coming to the business end of the season, I had said before that we can get our players in form, then it sets us up nicely.
I was pleased to contribute. In the context of the game, there was a lot of rubbish flying around on the field and it was nice to shut up a few of their lads.
We needed 219 from 30 overs at tea on the last day, but decided that the target was just too much and shook hands on the draw.
You have to trust the batsmen out there, I guess, and their decision and the pitch was deteriorating.
There was quite a lot of spin and with our left-handers in the top-order, it was probably a bridge too far. And I think that it was a good statement with us being none down as well.
The last thing we wanted to do was be holding out for a draw, seven or eight wickets down or something like that and it was a decent statement from us, even though we didn’t play our best cricket at times. We came out with our heads held high.
If we had been chasing 150 or 160 going into that last 18 to 20 overs, then it would have given us a good chance. We just felt it was too many to chase.
I don’t think that Lancashire would have gone for it either, to be honest.
Overall, it was a solid draw, although I was a bit disappointed with the way we bowled on the morning of day two as I thought we were exceptional on day one and held our lines and lengths and were patient.
All that hard work was undone by poor bowling on the second morning and it really put us behind the eight-ball.
But the encouraging thing is we got past the follow-on and got back into the game.
Azeem Rafiq, Jack Leaning and David Willey all got their Yorkshire caps before the game and it was a fantastic moment.
The best part of my job is to give caps out like that and see what it means to the lads.
In particular, you could see it for the two lads who have come right through the age groups. To eventually get a Yorkshire cap; you could see the emotion in their faces when they received them.
It was good for David, too. He is starting to win games for us now in the short-ball format, although he probably has not played as many red-ball games as he would have liked and has had a few injury niggles and going into that Old Trafford game, he had a hamstring injury.
But he is starting to win games of cricket and that is why we signed him; for us to be in the hunt – in the white-ball Twenty20 and 50-over competition.
It’s finals day today in the T20 and I am looking forward to it and am going down there and will be in and around the squad.
It is a big day for the club and we want to keep our name in the hat for all three formats and trophies.
Obviously, I would have been liked to have been a part of the white-ball stuff. But when you look down the team sheet when all the international players come back, it is a bloody tough side to get into!

Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps


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Collage and surrealism were made for each other and it’s an artistic style that a new name to Harrogate art lovers specialises in.
Presented by local Platform Open at Major's Tom Social on The Ginnel, Harrogate, In Dreams by Thomas James Butler is described as “an exhibition of analogue collages.”
Launched tonight, Thursday, the artist himself cites influences including Eduardo Paolozzi, Terry Gilliam and David Hockey.
Growing up with weekly trips to galleries and watching his father paint and sculpt, Butler went to art college initially before becoming disillusioned and settling into the world of horticulture.
Living now in the Vale of York, Butler likens his collages to his dreams.
He said: “Asking me to explain my work is like asking me to explain my dreams - I can’t. A dream is a handful of random images from the past and present thrown together in one surreal, fleeting moment.”

Surrealist exhibition launch tonight at Major Tom's in Harrogate


Health chiefs in part of North Yorkshire say they will need to evaluate every service they commission to plug a growing shortfall in its budget amid “unprecedented” demand.
Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) say although its NHS funding has not been cut, the rise in demand for health services and increasing costs is “outstripping” the money available for services.
The pressures of a growing and ageing population has caused a “significant increase” in demand for all types of local health services against a fixed NHS budget, the CCG said.
Plans are already in place to plug the £8.4m shortfall for the next financial year, 2016/17, but with costs continuing to rise, it is preparing further ways in which it can bridge the budget gap, including proposals to stop providing ‘over the counter’ medicines like paracetamol, which last year cost the NHS locally £260,000 to prescribe. Paracetamol and other painkillers are widely available in supermarkets and at local chemists and cost around 1p per tablet, compared to 3p per tablet on the NHS, the CCG said.
Governing body member at the CCG, Rick Sweeney, said: “As an organisation we have a number of difficult choices to make about what is affordable for the whole of our local population against an ever increasing demand for access to health services.
“We are reviewing all areas of spend including the services we purchase, the medicines prescribed, outpatient appointments and operations.
“Getting medicine on prescription costs much more than buying over the counter due to the time doctors and local pharmacists take when dealing with appointments, handling prescriptions and dispensing medication. Last year, over 3m items were prescribed to patients across Harrogate and the rural district at a cost of over £25m.”
Examples of increased demand on health services across Harrogate include a 2.7 per cent increase in the number of people attending A&E in the same three month period of April to June from 2015 to 2016 - equating to an additional £125,000 cost not planned for.
The same comparative period also saw a 14 per cent increase in the number of knee procedures at an additional cost of £160,000.
Chief officer at the CCG, Amanda Bloor, appealed directly to residents of the Harrogate district to “play their part” in addressing the challenge.
She said: “Like many neighbouring CCGs across North Yorkshire, we are facing unprecedented challenges as demand from an ageing and growing population increases.
“It is important that everyone using the NHS appreciates the pressures it faces through growing demand and cost and takes responsibility for using it most effectively so we can help secure high quality local health services.
“The CCG is working to identify as many efficiency savings as it can. This will mean a renewed focus on self-care and healthy lifestyle choices by individuals and may include reduction or withdrawal of certain services that do not improve outcomes.
“Everyone is aware that public services and specifically the NHS are under significant pressure, and I would encourage local people to help the CCG ensure we can continue to deliver the services needed for local people within the budget we are given from Government.
“We will be working closely with our partners including Healthwatch North Yorkshire to determine how we can secure services within the funding available.”
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Unprecedented demand on health services prompts ‘difficult choices’


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It keeps thousands of people in jobs, ensures Yorkshire’s moorland stays diverse with wildlife and contributes more than £2bn to the national economy.
But as gamekeepers across the region mark the Glorious 12th and the start of the grouse season today, a new group set up to fight for the survival of shooting on the moors of North Yorkshire has urged people to recognise the multitude of benefits it brings.
Gun dog handler Fiona Kirk with her English Setter, Zeus and Anthony Dowson 28, Moorland Beat Keeper for the Thimbleby estate, stalking game on the moor.
The North Yorkshire Moors Moorland Organisation (NYMMO) brings together keepers from 12 North Yorkshire estates, including Danby, Rosedale and Westerdale, Sleights and Goathland and Thimbleby, who felt their livelihoods - and way of life - were being threatened, both by misinformation and the possibility of a ban in future.
They are now working to promote the benefits that managed moorlands bring, not only to the moors and wildlife, but also to communities and the rural economy that is helped by the shooting parties. It is a picture replicated across the country, from Scotland to the Peak District.
NYMMO coordinator Tina Brough said: “There seems to be more and more bad publicity about shooting, and following the hunting ban, people were thinking ‘will we be next?’. We want to promote the good side of moorland management before it gets to that point.”
Shooting, and preparing for a shoot, is just a small proportion of a keeper’s role. Trapping predators such as stoats and foxes allows ground nesting birds such are the red-status lapwing, curlew and merlin, to thrive, and the NYMMO plans to survey wildlife on the moors in an attempt to show that once-threatened species are benefitting from moorland management.
Anthony Dowson 28, Moorland Beat Keeper for the Thimbleby estate, near Northallerton. Picture: James Hardisty.
“People have the misconception that we kill everything just to keep grouse but that’s not true,” Miss Brough said. “If game keepers weren’t there the moors would not be sustainable.”
At Thimbleby Estate, near Northallerton, heather burning is key to moorland management.
In May, 200 acres of heather moorland in the Peak District were destroyed after an accidental fire spread. Moorland management, which includes creating firebreaks, was not in use.
Thimbleby head keeper David Dickinson said: “If we didn’t burn, a summer fire would run for miles and miles. It would be a disaster. People seem to think moorland management is all about wealthy people shooting, but it’s so much more than that.
Grouse on moorland.
“It’s about creating a healthy moor that can be the best it can be - and also an environment where a wide range of people can get enjoyment from it. On shoot days we have ladies beating, students helping us when they’re off college - it’s a big part of the community.”
Meanwhile, a row between Sir Ian Botham and Chris Packham over whether grouse shooting should be banned saw the former England cricketer label the BBC wildlife presenter an “extremist”.
More than 80,000 people have signed a petition calling for shooting to be outlawed.
Sir Ian, wholives in North Yorkshire, is a supporter of the shoot while Mr Packham has backed the petition, and the pair engaged in an angry clash over the issue on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Mr Packham said the shoots damage bird of prey populations while Sir Ian suggested the presenter should not be allowed to publicly take sides because of his status as a BBC employee.
At the same time, a report by government conservation agency Natural England has concluded that England’s uplands could support more than 200 breeding pairs of hen harriers, but the bird of prey’s numbers are being kept down by illegal persecution.
The RSPB recently pulled out of the Government’s hen harrier action plan because it felt the plan was not delivering the “urgent action and change in behaviour” needed to bring the bird of prey back from the brink of extinction in England.
The wildlife charity also raised concerns about the “environmental damage” caused by practices it says are used by grouse moor managers, such as draining and burning habitat and killing mountain hares to reduce disease in grouse.
It has called for the licensing of the industry, which it argues would drive up standards and ensure grouse moors complied with the law or risk losing their right to hold shoots.
The renewed debate comes as early hopes for a relatively good grouse shooting season, with better chick survival than the “calamitous conditions” last year, were undermined by adverse late weather during the nesting period.
The Moorland Association, whose members own and manage 860,000 acres of heather moorland in England and Wales for red grouse, said there could be pockets of poor grouse numbers on some moors and shoot days being cancelled.
But chairman Robert Benson said that there were still “positive outcomes” on land managed for grouse shooting, with 18,000 acres of peatland habitat restored across northern England.

Glorious Twelfth: Ian Botham, Chris Packham and the fight for North Yorkshire’s moors


JASON GILLESPIE believes there has been clear progress in Yorkshire’s one-day cricket this year, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s semi-final.
Yorkshire are aiming to reach their first Lord’s final since 2002 when they take on Surrey at Headingley (11am start).
THREAT: Surrey's Kumar Sangakkara
It is the second successive season that Yorkshire have reached the Royal London semis, with the club going down by eight wickets to eventual champions Gloucestershire at Headingley last year.
Surrey, last season’s runners-up, will pose another stiff test, but Gillespie has been encouraged by Yorkshire’s white-ball performances, with the club having also reached the semi-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast before losing to Durham.
“We’ve seen clear progress in white-ball cricket this year,” said Gillespie. “We’re not the finished article, but we’ve definitely seen improvements overall in both of the comps.
“We should have chased down the runs against Durham in the T20 semi, even though Mark Wood bowled very well against us.
“But that’s gone now, and I’m pleased overall with how the lads have gone about their work in one-day cricket.”
To get past Surrey, Yorkshire must overcome a semi-final hoodoo in List A cricket. Their defeat to Gloucestershire last season was their 16th in 19 one-day cup semis.
“That stat isn’t in our minds,” said Gillespie. “It hasn’t even been discussed. Sunday is a new day, and the fact is that we’ve played some good cricket in the 50-over comp.
“We know Surrey are a quality team and that people will see them as favourites, which is okay with us.
“We just need to go out there and play the best cricket we can and focus on that.”
On paper, the biggest danger to Yorkshire is Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka batsman/wicketkeeper. Sangakkara, 38, scored an unbeaten 130 to help Surrey to a dramatic one-wicket win off the last ball of their quarter-final at Northants.
“Sangakkara is clearly an extremely dangerous player,” said Gillespie, whose side booked their semi-final place with an 11-run win over Kent at Canterbury.
“He has a proven track record, and he is capable of winning games single-handed.
“At the same time, we will do our homework against him and encourage our bowlers and everyone to do their research.
“Phil Dicks (the Yorkshire analyst) puts a lot of stuff together, and the players have iPads where they can look at all the relevant footage – ie, where Sangakkara scores his runs, his wagon wheels, and potentially where he could be vulnerable, which is what we do with all our opponents.”
Yorkshire’s attention to detail in this regard has increased markedly in recent times.
Dicks is an important member of the backroom operation, equipping players with all the necessary stats and info.
“Phil has been brilliant,” said Gillespie. “He’s an important cog in the support staff at Yorkshire.
Yorkshire (from): Ballance, Bresnan, Brooks, Carver, Coad, Hodd, Leaning, Lees (capt), Lyth, Patterson, Rafiq, Rhodes, Waite.

Yorkshire v Surrey: White-ball progress gives Jason Gillespie grounds for optimism as prize of Lord’s final awaits


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JASON GILLESPIE’s departure as Yorkshire’s first-team coach, after five years in charge of the county champions, had been on the cards for some time.
Earlier this summer, Gillespie’s wife, Anna, and their four children moved back to Adelaide in Australia.
HEADING OUT: Yorkshire first-team coach, pictured at Headingley in November last year. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
It would be a strange marriage that could survive for several months apart on opposite sides of the world, although, on second thoughts, some couples would probably relish that thought.
Flippancy aside, Yorkshire had hoped to get at least one more year out of Gillespie, whose future had been the subject of regular speculation since he took the job in 2011.
Since then, the former Australia fast bowler has helped the club to one County Championship promotion and to back-to-back Championship titles, with the prospect of a hat-trick to follow next month.
Under Gillespie, Yorkshire have also twice reached NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day and successive Royal London Cup semi-finals, although, after 14 years without a one-day trophy, they have yet to crack limited-overs cricket in quite the same way.
IT'S OURS: Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale and coach Jason Gillespie celebrate with the County Championship trophy at Trent Bridge back in 2014. Pictures: SWpix.
Gillespie’s track record, however, speaks for itself (Yorkshire have lost only five of 76 Championship games since his arrival), and he has been linked with practically more international coaching positions than there are jobs vacant.
There are many observers –this correspondent included –who thought that he should have got the England job last year, an opinion that has not been altered by progress under Trevor Bayliss.
Gillespie has also been linked with international positions back home, where his great friend and former team-mate Darren Lehmann is in charge of the Australia side.
Gillespie already doubles up as coach of the Big Bash franchise Adelaide Strikers, and potential moves for him now could include international cricket/the Indian Premier League.
CHEERS, I'LL BE OFF THEN: Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie will leave the club after five years at the end of this season.
Although Yorkshire will be sad to see him go, it was a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’, Gillespie left.
The time would seem right for him not only from a family perspective, but also, one suspects, from a cricketing point of view.
Gillespie has probably taken Yorkshire as far as he can; their performances in the Championship this summer have actually tailed off a touch, although they have been more affected by injuries than in recent seasons, and they go into the final four matches just five points behind leaders Middlesex.
But it has not been the dominant campaign that many had hoped, although the end result is all that counts, and the players will be doubly determined to give Gillespie a successful send-off.
THRILLED: Jason Gillespie watches from the Lords balcony as the County Championship title is retained, despite the triumph being accompanied by defeat against hosts Middlesex.
Yorkshire’s magnificent pace attack is not getting any younger, and although there is no reason to suspect that the current side cannot aim to stretch their run of titles to at least four or five in a row, Yorkshire must soon face such unpalatable questions as: “Exactly how do you replace Ryan Sidebottom?”
Sport moves in cycles, and Gillespie has been part of a golden cycle at Yorkshire. He will leave with the thanks of the club’s supporters, who already respected him for what he achieved as a player.
As a key member of the great Australia side of the Nineties and Noughties, Gillespie took 402 international wickets. As a coach, it is noticeable that he never speaks about that success, or indeed seeks credit for Yorkshire’s recent triumphs.
He appreciates that it is players who win silverware first and foremost, and that support staff, in a nutshell, are exactly what that term would imply.
Gillespie’s coaching methods would seem quite simple: he does not over-complicate the game, but encourages his players to perform with freedom and to try to take the positive option.
He recognises the importance of making sure that the players believe that the coach believes in them, and his style is more arm-around-the-shoulder than ranter-and-raver.
Like all in sport, however, he hides a tough streak, although never quite to the extent that it masks a cheerful personality for too long.
At heart, he is a thoroughly decent chap: friendly, personable, and with time for all.
Even his infamous comments about the dairy industry, which he suggested earlier this summer should be closed down as it does not tie in with his vegan views, betrayed that decency and caring disposition, even if they were not shared by everyone – not least the Yorkshire sponsors, Wensleydale Cheese.
Yorkshire will not replace him easily, but a team of talented cricketers will cope.
Gillespie himself has seen to it, by helping to create a culture that will not be broken just because the time has come for him to say goodbye.

Chris Waters: Time is right for Jason Gillespie to bid farewell to Yorkshire CCC


“THE greatest cricket festival in the whole of the world,” proclaimed Colin Graves of Scarborough during a lunchtime speech in the Festival marquee.
The England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, who is also president of Scarborough CC, described it as “top of my heart list” and promised that the ECB would retain the Scarborough and Cheltenham Festivals amid an ever-changing cricketing climate.
“Scarborough is a passion for me,” added Graves. “The wicket is the best outside the international venues.
“I got that from Steven Finn, who played here for Middlesex this year. He said that Scarborough is the best wicket he played on, which is a credit to Scarborough Cricket Club.”
Graves, the former Yorkshire chairman, thus gave a timely thumbs-up to a ground close to where he used to work as an ice-cream waiter.
With the number of Championship games being reduced from next summer, it is comforting to know that Scarborough retains his personal backing, and also that of the ECB board.
GOOD TOUCH: Stand-in captain Gary Ballance celebrates his second innings century for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough on day three. Picture: Dave Williams.
“I had some fantastic times when I worked in Scarborough, but we won’t go into that,” quipped Graves, who used to work at Jaconelli’s just down the road. “It’s always been a special place.”
Graves, who will be Scarborough CC president again next year, was speaking before a gathering of dignitaries and invited guests at a ground where Yorkshire are looking to close the gap on leaders Middlesex.
The champions would reduce that gap to five points with four games left with a win here, which looks a formality weather-permitting.
Notts, the bottom club, go into the final day on 61-3 in their second innings, trailing by 390.
But it is a formality only if Yorkshire can get on the field for long enough, with heavy rain permitting only 35.2 overs yesterday, although much better weather is forecast today.
Yorkshire, who declined to enforce the follow-on despite a lead of 188, will kick themselves from here all the way back to Headingley if the elements enable a Notts’ escape.
They will hope that the inquests prove unnecessary, though, after another commanding display yesterday before bad light, closely followed by heavy rain, prevented play from 2.50.
In gloomy conditions, which explained why the crowd of 2,634 was down from the 5,000 gates on the first two days, Yorkshire resumed on 200-4 in their second innings.
Stand-in captain Gary Ballance had 75 to his name, while Tim Bresnan had yet to score.
After rain delayed the start by 40 minutes, the pair added 62 in 12.2 overs before Ballance declared the innings at 263-4, 25 minutes before lunch, setting Notts a notional 452 to win.
He did so with 101 against his own name, his 29th first-class hundred, and his second Championship century of the season at Scarborough. He faced 164 balls and hit 14 fours, thus taking a big step in his quest to finish the season strongly on a personal level.
Criticism of his international displays have been over-the-top, and his game appears in pretty good order. Ditto Bresnan, who practically comes with the guarantee of runs.
He had made 35 of them from 59 balls with five fours and a straight six off Samit Patel when Ballance called a halt, leaving Yorkshire five overs at their opponents before lunch.
It took only nine balls for Notts to lose their first wicket in pursuit of what would be their second-highest total to win a Championship match, behind the 461-3 achieved at Worcester in 2001.
Jack Brooks, bowling from the Trafalgar Square end, had Steven Mullaney caught at third slip by Jack Leaning as the visitors dined on 4-1.
After Brooks bowled seven overs for 17 either side of lunch, he was replaced by Bresnan, who struck with the first and last balls of his first over to leave Notts rocking on 34-3. Jake Libby played back and was caught at fourth slip by Jake Lehmann, moving smartly to his left, and Michael Lumb was adjudged caught behind.
Lumb, the former Yorkshire batsman, who thus completed a pair, clearly did not think he had hit the ball, and it appeared to be an interesting decision.
In the newspaper, however, it reads: ‘MJ Lumb c Hodd b Bresnan 0’, just as it says ‘TJ Moores not out 41’, the 19-year-old’s innings his highest for Notts, and a performance of great skill and maturity.

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (day three): Gary Ballance hoping weather stays kind to boost defending champions’ title defence


You wouldn’t think that there are many similarities between running a restaurant and say a train company or an airline, but one restaurant in Yorkshire is changing that in a small way.
Harrogate-based ‘Norse’, a Nordic-influenced restaurant, has introduced tickets for tables and they’ve gone one step further by offering different prices depending on when you want to eat.
The restaurant is using a reservation system called ‘Tock’ that was created in Chicago for a group of restaurants including ‘Alinea’ – recently announced as the World’s 15th best restaurant.
Owner Paul Rawlinson said: “Harrogate is a really competitive market for independent restaurants especially with the arrival of lots of new chains over the last few months. We wanted a way to broaden the appeal of the restaurant and offering additional value to incentivise guests to visit at quieter times.”
Norse was listed in the Michelin guide and the Good Food Guide in 2015 and was a finalist in The Observer Food Monthly Awards in the category ‘Best Restaurant’.
Offering different prices depending on when you use a service is something that is common for airlines and hotels but not something that is often seen in the restaurant industry, especially in Yorkshire.
Under the new system, diners will have the option of choosing to eat either a four or eight course set menu.
The price of the four-course menu ranges from £25 at 6pm on a Tuesday to £40 at 7pm on a Friday or Saturday.

Harrogate restaurant uses airline technology to help diners


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A top Harrogate independent cafe-bar is expanding with a second outlet.
Hoxton North, which first launched on Parliament Street in 2013 with some of the town's best coffee, will open a second more ambitious cafe-bar at 1 Royal Parade in Harrogate next Thursday, September 1.
The focus will be on artisan and local suppliers, organic, natural or biodynamic still and sparkling wines, craft beers and spirits.
After an extensive fit-out at what was until recently La Feria restaurant, Hoxton North is delighted to have created what it says it a genuine neighbourhood space, inspired by the relaxed breakfast bars of Sydney, Melbourne and London, with clean lines and detailed finishes.
In terms of food, Hoxton North on Royal Parade will be championing small-scale artisan suppliers and producers as well as showcasing both traditional, vegan, dairy or gluten free food options.
The menu will change on a regular basis depending on availability, seasonality and recommendations.
The new Hoxton North will also showcase vegan and dairy and gluten free food options.


THERE was no music, no introduction, no commentary and no adverts... so why did the two-hour TV special of a bus trip through the Yorkshire Dales prove so popular?
Early figures indicate that almost a million viewers tuned in on Bank Holiday Monday evening to watch the Northern Dalesman service wind its way through the splendid Yorkshire countryside.
But it was on Twitter where news of the show really started to cause a stir as #CountryBus started trending and proud Yorkshire folk started to wax lyrical about the splendour of their wonderful county.
Special cameras were fitted to the bus, displaying its route - stretching from Richmond to Ingleton - in real time, capturing the road ahead, the passing scenery and the occasional chatter of the regular passengers.
The BBC Four show, All Aboard! The Country Bus, is the latest in a series of ‘slow’ programmes, following the success of The Sleigh Ride and Slow Week.
The ‘Dalesman’s 40-mile route includes a blossoming river valley, ancient meadows, agricultural pastures and ancient mining villages, and passes over high open heathland, before a final stretch across the hilly Dales past Ribbleshead viaduct.
The programme featured captions integrated into the landscape to provide details about the dramatic countryside through which the bus was passing - from aspects of the geographical or geological environment, to specific highlights of Britain’s agricultural or industrial heritage, from the ancient stone hay barns that dot the landscape to the scars left behind by the lead mining of previous centuries.
The Twitter reaction was, on the whole, positive with those watching it transfixed with the scenery and those who were unable to watch it desperate to know when and how they could watch a repeat!
The praise was headed by @Yorkshire_Life which tweeted: “What wonderful television the #CountryBus is - no dialogue or narration. Just lets the beautiful #YorkshireDales speak for itself”
Ed Jennings (@Ed_Jennings) added: “If you aren’t watching BBC4 right now, I have no idea what you’re doing with your life. #CountryBus” while _DNCN(@DNCN_MCR) wrote “I’ve slept on it now and i’m still convinced #CountryBus is the best thing ‘ve ever seen on British TV.”
The support went on... here are some of the best tweets in support of the show.
itsallaboutcake (@Itsallaboutcake)
#CountryBus is what the BBC is for. No other broadcaster in the world would do this.
Jo (@Jodelle08)
Thank you @BBCFOUR for 2 hours of sublime TV last night. #CountryBus. More please.
Jacqui Wicks (@OssettObserver)
Whoever commissioned #CountryBus is in my opinion a broadcasting genius!
Tim Schofield (@jonesonenil)
@BBCFOUR I’d love everyone to see this, particularly those who have never ventured any further north than Watford. Gorgeous TV. #CountryBus
Kate Chapman (@surreykate)
Wow I want to go on this bus #CountryBus
smudgesmam (@lynnebroom)
Feeling all emotional since the beauty that was #CountryBus on #BBC4 fantastic two hours!
lucy lawson (@amypoops)
How awesome was #CountryBus and how lucky am I to live there !! #FeelingBlessed #YorkshireDales
Chris Crispy McLaren (@crispy_180)
#CountryBus Love the way this is trending, and the way it has caught people’s imagination as well! Watched all 2 hours of it as well!!
Nicola Paton Art (@nikki_paton)
Can’t believe how much I enjoyed #CountryBus :)
ANDY URRY (@IRONONTHEUP)
#bbc4 #countrybus only in the uk could you see such fabulous TV footage, Well done Bbc4 more please !
Jane Roberts (@JaneElRoberts)
Can I go on #CountryBus The Return? Peaceful, relaxing, stunning Yorkshire Dales scenery & silence but for an occasional baaing sheep. Bliss
Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four says: “I’m delighted that Slow television has struck such a chord with BBC Four viewers. This programme offered another very special treat; an opportunity to sit back and appreciate the sights and sounds of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in a rich and absorbing antidote to the frenetic pace of modern life.”
All Aboard! The Country Bus was aired on BBC Four on Monday, August 29 but is now available to download on the BBC iPlayer.

Country Bus: How a two-hour bus trip tour of the Yorkshire Dales caused a social media stir


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Music fans are heading for Bramham Park this weekend for Leeds Festival - and they're keeping their fingers crossed there’s no repeat of the mud bath of three years ago.
With Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foals, Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy and Disclosure as headliners this weekend, the line-up at Bramham Park is possibly the biggest and best to date.
By all accounts, ticket sales are up on last year, with thousands of fans already flocking to the festival’s site at Bramham Park.
It’s also looking fairly bright in terms of the weather forecast for the three-day festival which runs from August 26-28.
As this newspaper went to press shows, festival-goers can expect to escape the rain most of the time and enjoy some sunshine at times over the next three days.
Tomorrow, Friday is expected to be bright all day, Saturday is set to be overcast with a good chance of rain, too, while the final day Sunday is forecast to be cloudy.
As for the line-up itself, other acts on the bill to look out for includ Chvrches, The Vaccines, Imagine Dragons, Jack Garratt, Two Door Cinema Club, The 1975, Crystal Castles, Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Wiley, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Yoda, Oliver Heldens, Courteeners and Maximo Park.
Leeds Festival boss Melvin Benn, said: “This year really is a big one for Reading and Leeds. Five headliners across three days – it’s a first for us and the UK Festival scene. We’re always looking to give Reading and Leeds fans something new and this year isn’t going to disappoint.
In terms of DJ-ing, progressive pop specialist, the super-talented Joe Mount of Metronomy, will be playing a special Metronomy Summer ‘08 DJ Set on the Saturday night as part of the now traditional ‘take over’ by Transgressive Records.
The Alternative Stage at Reading Festival on Friday will be a non-stop indie rock party with back to back DJ sets from rock’s finest including Peace vs Hinds, BBC Radio 1 favourite Huw Stephens vs Pulled Apart By Horses, Transgressive Sound System vs Rockfeedback DJs and a closing set by Jen Long vs Bless DJs. Specially commissioned live visuals will be provided throughout the night, as well as more surprise appearances.
Among a small number of up-and-coming local music acts to appear at the festival on the Lock Up stage tomorrow, Friday will be Leeds alt-rock Americana band Fighting Caravans, who headlined a Charm gig at Major Tom’s Social in Harrogate in May.
Appearing on the Jack Rocks This Feeling stage on Friday will be Leeds psych rock outfit The Chessmen who appeared in the Spirit of 66 multi-media event for Charm and RedHouse Originals at The Club in Harrogate last month.
Melvin Benn said: “We’re delighted to be giving these bands an opportunity that a lot of others have taken in the oast, including some bands that are playing this year. Two Door Cinema Club started here at Leeds Festival. It’s a real, real opportunity.”
The comedy stage will feature big name acts Bill Bailey, Russell Kane, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh, Katherine Ryan, Marcus Brigstocke and Russell Howard.
For information and tickets, visit www.leedsfestival.com

Leeds Festival-goers hoping to avoid a mud bath


Pet-owners in Harrogate have been warned to stay vigilant after a cat was shot with a pellet and left with a punctured lung.
Aimee Bellwood was called by worried members at Shamrock Veterinary Clinic, on Tuesday, July 26, after her cat had been missing for more than three days.
Marge with owner Aimee
When she arrived at the vets, she was given the devastating news that her three-year-old cat Marge needed life-saving surgery after being shot with a pellet gun.
Marge had suffered a punctured lung in the sickening attack and further X-Rays confirmed that she had also sustained a shattered pelvis and a broken leg.
Police confirmed to Aimee that there had been an increase of similar attacks on cats around the Stray and she warned other pet-owners to stay vigilant.
She said: "When I got to the vets, I found out that somebody had found Marge in their garden on Monday morning but thought she was just sleeping.
"When Marge was still there when he got back from work he decided to take her to the vets, that's when they found out she had been attacked.
"I felt sick when I first saw Marge at the vets. I couldn't tell what her injuries were at first but then she just lifted her head up and put it on my hand.
"There are two theories around what happened to her. The vets think she was either shot with a pellet gun and ran into a car when she was dazed.
"But the injuries were on her left side, so the vets also think that after she was shot she could have been kicked."
Marge is now three weeks into her six-week rehabilitation but vets have yet to confirm if she will be left with any long-term injuries following the attack.
Aimee said: "When the vet started to explain the treatment that she went through, they were shocked that she had even survived.
"You just don't expect this kind of thing to happen in Harrogate at all because everyone is so friendly. It's been an absolutely awful experience.
"People have been so supportive and kind with their well wishes but also angry that this could have happened.
"To think someone could harm a defenseless animal. She is the sweetest cat and I just feel sick at the thought of someone harming her."

Pet-owners beware: Warning after cat shot with pellet in brutal Harrogate attack


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TIM BRESNAN claimed only the eighth five-wicket haul of his first-class career as champions Yorkshire closed in on victory against Notts at Scarborough.
The former England pace bowler has 5-36 as Notts reached lunch on 129-6 on day four, trailing by 323.
Bresnan bowled the first eight overs of the morning from the Trafalgar Square end, and he took 3-9 in the space of 31 balls after capturing his first two wickets the previous evening.
Brendan Taylor has batted through the session to advance from three to 37, with Brett Hutton (20) also unbeaten at the break.
In sunny conditions at North Marine Road, where Yorkshire brought over their “Blotter” from Headingley to dry the outfield after overnight rain, Notts lost a wicket to the day’s fourth ball when Bresnan had Tom Moores caught at second slip by Adam Lyth.
Moores had not added to his overnight score of 41, and Notts slipped to 77-5 when Bresnan had Samit Patel caught behind for five.
Tim Bresnan celebrates the wicket of Nottinghamshire's Jake Libby at Scarborough on day three. Picture: Dave Williams
Patel briefly stood his ground in echoes of Michael Lumb’s dismissal on the third evening, when he, too, had been given out caught behind by umpire Neil Mallender.
Bresnan then bagged his fifth wicket when he had Chris Read caught at fourth slip by Jake Lehmann for one, leaving the visitors 83-6.
But Notts dug in as Taylor and Hutton battled for 80 minutes before the break in front of a 2,500 crowd.

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (day four, lunch): Tim Bresnan strikes to put White Rose on verge of victory


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Yorkshire moved to within five points of County Championship leaders Middlesex after wrapping up a resounding 305-run victory over Nottinghamshire at Scarborough.
Knowing a victory was needed to keep pace at the top of the table in what was their game in hand on their main title rivals, the White Rose county backed up Gary Ballance’s decision not to follow-on on Wednesday by securing the win early in the afternoon session.
Tim Bresnan celebrates the wicket of Nottinghamshire's Jake Libby at Scarborough on day three. Picture: Dave Williams
They needed just 34.3 overs to claim the final seven wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 146 chasing 452 to win and leave their own hopes of survival in Division One hanging in the balance.
They remain rooted bottom to the bottom of the table with three matches to play while Yorkshire stay second and well in the hunt for a third successive Championship title.
Despite heavy rain for much of the evening on the east coast, play got under way on time thanks in no part to the decision to transport the club’s ‘Blotter’ from Headingley to North Marine Road in the early hours of the morning.
The machine spent two hours drying the outfield, and Tim Bresnan was soon reaping the rewards as he had Tom Moores (41) caught by Adam Lyth at second slip from just the fourth ball of the morning.
Having taken two wickets in an over on the previous day, Bresnan continued his fine form with the ball, with Samit Patel the next to succumb to the England all-rounder as he feathered an edge through to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.
Notts captain Chris Read fared little better as Bresnan picked up his fifth wicket, Jake Lehman the catcher at fourth slip, but Brendan Taylor and Brett Hutton were able to forge a partnership to see Notts through to lunch.
The pair added 47 for the seventh wicket, but just three balls after the interval they were parted as Ryan Sidebottom found Hutton’s outside edge and Hodd took the simplest of catches.
That sparked a lower order collapse, as Brendan Taylor (38) pushed a wide ball from Jack Brooks to Alex Lees at cover and Luke Fletcher was bowled from the very next ball to leave Notts on the brink of defeat.
Imran Tahir was able to survive the hat-trick delivery, but he faced just three more deliveries before fending Brooks off to Lees at short-leg as the final four wickets fell in just three-and-a-half overs after lunch.
Bresnan finished with career best figures of 5-36 and his best in any first-class match across the two innings of eight for 51.

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (day four): Tim Bresnan’s career-best return in White Rose victory


JASON GILLESPIE has resigned as Yorkshire’s first team coach.
The former Australia fast bowler is to leave the club at the end of the season.
Jason Gillespie with Martyn Moxon at Headingley back in 2012.
The news is a body blow to the county champions, whom Gillespie has led to back-to-back Championships.
READ/WATCH MORE - Timeline and slideshow of Jason Gillespie’s time at Yorkshire
READ MORE - Royal London Cup: Semi-final misery continues for Yorkshire as they come up short against Surrey
However, it is not entirely unexpected, with Gillespie’s wife and four children having recently returned to Australia, and with his future having been a regular source of speculation.
Martyn Moxon will not begin the search for a new head coach until the end of the current season Yorkshire CCC statement
Gillespie has been linked with a number of international coaching jobs during his five seasons in charge, and he already doubles up as coach of the Big Bash franchise Adelaide Strikers.
Yorkshire had hoped that he would stay for at least another year, but after the club lost to Surrey in the Royal London Cup semi-final yesterday, Gillespie communicated his decision to the Yorkshire board.
Yorkshire say they will start the search for a new head coach at the end of the season, who will work under director of cricket Martyn Moxon.
In a statement issued today, the club said: “Yorkshire County Cricket Club can confirm that Jason Gillespie will leave his position as head coach at the end of the 2016 season.
Yorkshire's head coach, Jason Gillespie, pictured with Jonny Bairstow during Sunday's Royal London Cup semi-final defeat at Headingley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Jason, who led Yorkshire from the Second Division to consecutive Championship titles, along the way suffering just five defeats in 76 Championship fixtures since his appointment in November 2011.
“His wife Anna and their four children have recently returned to Australia and, with the 41-year-old’s existing commitments to coaching the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash, Jason feels the close season is an appropriate time to part company.
“Martyn Moxon will not begin the search for a new head coach until the end of the current season, and the club will provide further updates when the time is appropriate.”
Gillespie has the chance to go out on a high, with the club well-placed to secure a hat-trick of Championships.
Yorkshire go into Wednesday’s match against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl in second place in Division One, five points behind leaders Middlesex with four games to play.

Jason Gillespie to stand down as Yorkshire CCC coach at end of 2016 season


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Yorkshire take on Surrey in the semi-final of the Royal London One Day Cup at Headingley.
Follow our live updates here ....
Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan (second left) is congratulated by Jack Brooks (second right) and Jonny Bairstow (right) after taking the wicket of Surrey's Kumar Sangakkara. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
44 overs: Yorkshire 202-6 - Bresnan 47 no; Rhodes 21 no - 54 needed off 36 balls
43 overs: Yorkshire 193-6 - Bresnan 44 no; Rhodes 15 no - 63 off 41 needed
42 overs: Yorkshire 188-6 - Bresnan 42 no; Rhodes 12 no- 68 needed off 48 balls
41 overs: Yorkshire 179-6 - Bresnan 37 no; Rhodes 10 no - 77 needed
40 overs: Yorkshire 173-6 - Bresnan 36 no; Rhodes 4no - 83 runs needed
37.1 overs: Waite out for an 38 off 60 balls - caught by Gareth Batty off the bowling of Sam Curran. Yorkshire up against it now.
THE loss of three quick wickets saw Yorkshire up against it as they took on Surrey at Headingley in the semi-final of the Royal London One Day Cup.
After restricting the visitors to 255-7 from their 50 overs – Matthew Waite leading the way with 3-48 – Yorkshire found themselves in a decent position at 75-2.
But, in the 19th over, Jonny Bairstow - cleared to play in the game by England - was caught by Dominic Sibley for 13 off the bowling of Stuart Meaker.
Just ten balls later, Bairstow’s England colleague, Gary Ballance, followed him back to the pavillion when he was caught behind by Ben Foakes for 32, handing Meaker his second victim.
Four balls later, the hosts were reeling when Jack Leaning chopped onto his stumps having scored just three.
Tim Bresnan was then joined by 20-year-old Waite with the score at 81.
The pair then batted sensibly to take their team’s score to 150-5 with 15 overs remaining.
Earlier, Steven Davies was the star of the show for the visitors, scoring a well-paced 104 off 143 balls with 10 fours and a six before becoming one of Waites’s three victims when he was caught by Will Rhodes.
Most of the damage was done in a fourth-wicket partnership between Davies and Foakes (90), the par putting on 130 before Davies exited in the 38th over.
Kumar Sangakkara, often seen as Surrey’s biggest threat, was sent on his way for just 4 when Azeem Rafiq took a catch off the bowling of Bresnan.
At the start of Yorkshire’s reply, Adam Lyth was dismissed at the start of the third overwhen caught by Sibley off the bowling of J\ake Dernbach.
Alex Lees put on 44 with Gary Ballance before shouldering arms to one off former Yorkshire player Gareth Batty that clean bowled him for 26.

LIVE - Royal London Cup: Yorkshire v Surrey - Middle order collapse leaves Yorkshire facing uphill battle in bid for Lord’s final


Low-cost airline Jet2.com has announced a major recruitment drive to hire 1,000 new pilots, cabin crew and engineers, with 135 of these to be created at Leeds Bradford Airport.
To support this drive, the company is hosting a recruitment roadshow at Jet2.com’s head office in the Mint, Ingram Street in Leeds on Friday September 9.
The roadshow has been designed to support the recruitment of pilot, cabin crew and engineering positions at Leeds Bradford Airport as the company continues to grow.
Following the recent addition of an 8th UK base in Birmingham with flights launching in 2017, alongside the acquisition of 30 new B737-800 aircraft commencing in September 2016 over a two-year period, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are looking to invest in their next phase of growth and development. As such, Jet2.com is recruiting around 1,000 roles nationwide.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “We have exciting plans to expand the number of destinations we fly to, as well as the number of UK bases we fly from, and this means that our team is growing all the time too. If you’re a pilot, engineer or aspiring cabin crew, and want to join the team of the UK’s favourite airline, then we’d be delighted to see you at our Leeds roadshow.”


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Five seasoned shoplifters reckoned they had outsmarted the law when they walked out of an upmarket clothes shop with more than £1,500 of designer coats.
The gang of thieves travelled to Harrogate from Manchester with rucksacks lined with foil to avoid security detection.
They went into Blacks outdoor-pursuits shop in Station Parade and picked out a number of expensive coats, York Crown Court heard.
They went into the changing rooms supposedly to try on the garments, but came out of the dressing area with “considerably less” coats than they had gone in with, said prosecuting barrister Kirsten Mercer.
They managed to evade security on the way out and left the store with nine new Berghaus and North Face jackets stuffed inside the bags, before heading off in a car.
But they didn’t get out of the borough as North Yorkshire police stopped the Vauxhall Corsa on Wetherby Road, Knaresborough, half an hour later.
Officers searched the vehicle and found the outdoor-pursuit coats - worth £1,550 - inside the boot.
Dayle Blinkhorn, 28, Liam O’Neill, 45, Steven Tahir, 41, and Gareth Tailby, 28, were each charged with theft. A fifth man was arrested but is still at large.
The four defendants eventually pleaded guilty to theft and appeared for sentence on Friday.
Prosecutor Ms Mercer said police stopped the getaway vehicle at about 4pm on October 31 last year. A scan of the national database showed that it had no current owner or insurance.
The court heard that Tahir, of Augustine Webster Close, Harpurhey, had 46 previous convictions for 66 offences, the majority of them for theft.
O’Neill, of Lewis Avenue, Harpurhey, had 39 previous convictions for 68 offences, the majority for theft but also 13 for fraud.
Blinkhorn, who was the driver of the Corsa, had 23 previous convictions for offences including shoplifting, battery and driving matters.
Tailby, lately of Dunluce Street, Liverpool, had 67 previous convictions for 132 offences including 83 thefts.
Judge David Batty QC told the defendants: “It’s perfectly obvious that you four, and another who is not before the courts, were acting as a professional shoplifting team, coming up mob-handed from Manchester, targeting retail premises in Harrogate.”
Tailby, Blinkorn and Tahir were each given 15-month suspended jail sentences with 200 hours’ unpaid work. O’Neill was given a 12-month suspended jail term with the same number of unpaid work hours.
Each defendant was made to pay a statutory surcharge but no costs.

Seasoned shoplifting gang foiled stealing £1,500 designer coats in Harrogate


A childhood dream has come true for one Dalesman after Sir Patrick Stewart agreed to sell his Yorkshire home. Sharon Dale reports.
Sir Patrick Stewart bid a tearful farewell to his Yorkshire Dales bolt hole after it went under offer to a local man who has dreamed of owning it since he was a boy.
Scar Top House
The celebrated stage actor, who became an international film star playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, bought Scar Top House 25 years ago at the height of his Hollywood fame.
He put the secluded home on the market for £535,000 with Dale Eddison last month and, after a flurry of viewings, he agreed to sell it to someone who has long admired the secluded, stone-built property in Hebden, near Grassington.
Estate agent Amanda May, manager of Dale Eddison's Skipton branch, said: “We had a lot of interest from all over the country but particularly from the north. A sale has been agreed with a local Dalesman who has wanted to own the house since he was a little boy. It’s a lovely story. Sir Patrick came to say farewell to the house and it was quite emotional.” She adds: “There was a fair bit of disappointment from people who didn’t end up being the buyer. We conducted well over 30 viewings and there were five people who wanted to buy it. “
The half mile track leading to the house was a turn-off for some would-be buyers but is one of the main reasons why Sir Patrick bought the four-bedroom property. He wanted an escape from the spotlight and came up with the idea of buying a country home in his native Yorkshire when driving down a fume-filled highway in Los Angeles.
The cosy inglenook fireplace
“I was pretty much resident in LA by then thanks to the filming but as I drove into the smog I was suddenly gripped by the thought of buying a house in the Yorkshire Dales. It was bizarre. I was fearful of losing myself to Hollywood in the way I’d seen other British stage actors do and I wanted a toehold in England, somewhere to come home to.”
The Mirfield-born actor found himself longing for the feelings of contentment he experienced as a teenager in the 1950s when he cycled out into the Dales on his push bike, leaving the mines and the mills of his home town far behind.
“The Dales captured my heart from a very young age,” said Sir Patrick.
His brother, who still lived in Yorkshire, lined up a series of homes for him to view, including Scar Top House. It offered everything he craved. Remote and surrounded by moorland, it gave him seclusion, sensational views and it was a world away from the Hollywood spotlight.
The country kitchen
“It was more remote than I envisaged but the views are amazing and it is very private, which has been helpful,” he said.
He invited his family in England to draw up a holiday rota so the house could be used when he wasn’t there. When he was, it was quite often alone. There were times when he would fly from LA to London before taking a plane to Leeds-Bradford airport and then a taxi to Hebden, just to spend a day at Scar Top. “It was madness but the draw of the house was so powerful. It was my bolthole, my retreat. I loved being in that landscape and I enjoyed hiking. I’d go for 20-mile hikes and not see another person. The local people were very respectful of my privacy too, especially the wonderful couple who had the Post Office. Visitors used to ask them where I lived and they’d say ‘he doesn’t live round here’.”
Back in America, where he has just filmed the third Wolverine movie and episodes of TV series Blunt Talk, his Dales home has helped him to sleep. He imagines himself walking up the track and is in the Land of Nod before he gets to the top.
After buying the property, he insulated the roof, furnished with oak furniture from nearby Grassington company Royal Oak and converted a barn into a garage. More recently, he has used the the house less, which is why he is selling it.
The dining area
He now divides his time between a home in the Cotswolds, close to stage work, and a property in Brooklyn, which he shares with his wife, singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell.
Sir Patrick still has close ties to Yorkshire and will not be a stranger to his home county. He still has family here, supports Huddersfield University, where he was Chancellor, and is a Huddersfield Town football club fan.

Sir Patrick Stewart sells his Dales home and makes a dream come true


BY LISTENING to her cakes and dancing constantly while cooking, Conisbrough’s Val Stones made it through the first episode of Bake Off - but tonight the pressure is on again.
It’s biscuit week and Val and her ten fellow remaining contestants will have to bake impressive signature dishes, technical challenges and showstoppers to stay in the competition.
The 66-year-old retired headteacher lives in Yeovil with husband Ian, but she is originally from Conisbrough, Doncaster, so we’ve claimed her as our own.
She delighted viewers with her odd baking tactics on BBC One last Wednesday.
Val exercises at the same time as cooking, lifting alternate feet off the ground as she’s mixing cake batter, or using the baking tray as a weight by lifting it above her head as it cools.
She also listens to her cakes, as she explained to the cameras during the first challenge of the contest, the signature bake.
Holding her precious sponge to her ear, she paused for a moment before saying: “And they’re not ready.
“They sing. And they say ‘I’m not ready, I’m not ready!’”
It’s not all singing and dancing though.
Although we know from last week that she makes a great mirror glaze chocolate genoise sponge, what if biscuits speak a different language to cakes so she can’t hear when they’re ready?
Or maybe her over-enthusiastic dancing will lead to a disaster - last week she dropped a whole rack of delicate decorative petals on the floor of the Bake Off tent.
I’m nervous for her. After all, biscuit week was full of surprises in 2015.
The star baker from week one, Marie Campbell, was sent home from the competition after forgetting to turn the oven on in the technical challenge.
(Iced) fingers crossed this won’t happen to our Val.

Great British Bake Off: Will Yorkshire lass Val crumble on biscuit week?


Dear Reader: A weekly column by the Harrogate Advertiser's Graham Chalmers.
I
n terms of traffic, it’s the perfect storm.
Take a highly attractive place to live, a government committed to looser plans rules and the rise of the two or, even, three-car family and the results are almost inevitable.
I’m not alone in this thought, a growing number of posts on this newspaper’s Facebook are now obsessing over traffic congestion.
Some say too many new houses are being built in this district, others call for the construction of a new bypass or two while others put the blame on traffic planners who, to quote one reader, “have never been to the areas they create traffic systems for.”
Frankly, it’s hard to see anything much changing in any of the above any time soon.
That in itself may say something about the sense of powerlessness shared by many people in current times.
But it wasn’t always so. In an earlier era of, perhaps, too much planning, a bold idea arose to tackle traffic in Harrogate town centre.
Build a concrete flyover!
I came across this surprising nugget when I organised an architectural exhibition for Harrogate International Festival Fringe a few years ago.
Called Past Dreams of the Future, it highlighted modern ideas for developing the town in the mid to late 1960s which never became a reality.
And the reason they never became a reality was simple.
Enough people demanded they be stopped, including this newspaper and members of Harrogate Borough Council.
There are times in your life when you find yourself wishing you were in a different carriage or a different train.
Such an occasion happened to me on Saturday while travelling on the York to Harrogate line.
Every summer I go to London and back by train for a day trip and every year this seems to coincide with racing at York.
And every time I go to London and back by train for a day trip coinciding with racing at York, a group of smartly dressed but worse for wear racegoers always seem to choose my carriage to tumble into.
The mixing of sobre passengers and, er, merry ones never makes for a happy cocktail in my experience.
And so it proved on Saturday.
I’m no stranger to the affects of a drink or two but this was something different.
Not that anyone did anything about it as the train rattled its way through Hammerton and Cattal.
No one complained. No one piped up. And neither did I.
A similar situation in the USA would undoubtedly have led to a verbal outburst, then a confrontation, followed by an assault and, possibly, a murder, then a protest and a riot.
So, perhaps, the silent majority did exactly the right thing by keeping quiet in the train carriage from York.
Rather than a result of apathy or fear, perhaps it was a matter of wisdom?

Harrogate's growing traffic congestion + train nightmare


Waterstones new cafe in Harrogate is nearly ready as part of a general freshen-up of the popular book store.
In fact, cafe W, as it will be called, may open as early as tomorrow, Friday, upstairs in Waterstones' James Street shop.
Children's books have already moved upstairs as part of the rejig but there is a question mark over where the non-fiction back catalogue is going.
Fears that the new cafe will reduce the space for books overall have been eased by a reader who posted the Harrogate Advertiser Facebook page.
The reader said Harrogate Waterstones is also opening up the third floor as part of the redevelopment, so there will be plenty of room for the books.
The official launch of the new-look Waterstone Harrogate will take place in just over a week's time.
Games, authors and children's favourite Hugless Douglas will all be on offer in its Relaunch Fair.
Staff are inviting the public to join them for a weekend of fun and games to celebrate Waterstones Harrogate's new-look new upper floor with its new café called 'W'.
The curtains will be lifted on all this exciting news for local book lovers over the weekend of September 3-4.
The Waterstones Harrogate Relaunch Fair will also feature visits by two literary celebrities.
Saturday will see local crime author Frances Brody coming to the new-look Saturday store to do a book signing at signing at 1pm.
Sunday will see children's character Hugless Douglas in store throughout the day.
There will also be vintage fairground games such as skittles, ring around the bottle, tin can alley and ping pong bounce.


A Harrogate restaurant is showing real Olympic spirit as the Rio Games get under way.
Throughout August, special menus, on-site events and promotions, charity raffles and silent auctions will take place at CAU Harrogate to mark a month of Latin American festivities.
Celebrating in style, CAU have teamed up with world-class barbecue sensation Christian Stevenson aka DJ BBQ as their official festival friend, bringing a splash of colour and taste of South America to Harrogate.
Based at the Westgate House off Station Parade, as the athletes compete in the sunshine of Rio, CAU Harrogate will be throwing its culinary talents into #CAUnival which is also a charitable campaign which supports international humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger.
It's all been inspired by the South American Dia del Amigo - a public holiday across Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay that celebrates friendship, kindness and sharing - values that CAU and Action Against Hunger both share.
The 'showstopper' during this Olympics month at will probably be the #CAUnival burger.
Lovingly created by chef duo dream team, DJ BBQ and CAU Executive Chef James Garland, it's been hailed as the best-tasting-burger this side of the Pacific.
Diners will also be treated to a bespoke #CAUnival playlist that will be built and played in each restaurant, with a limited edition playlist created especially by DJ BBQ, to be made available on vinyl.
www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

Taste of Rio at Harrogate restaurant as Olympics are launched


A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a mass brawl that broke out outside Bambinos takeaway on King's Road.
The fight happened at around 2.50am in the early hours of Friday, August 12 and involved a large group of men.
As a result a number of men were knocked to the floor, including one who appears unconscious on the CCTV footage.
A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and release on bail while enquiries continue.
Police were notified of the incident by CCTV operators and to date, no victims have come forward.
Officers in Harrogate have now issued the CCTV footage of the fight and have appealed for witnesses, who can help identify any of the people in the footage to come forward.
Police are also appealing to anyone who was present and was either assaulted or witnessed the incident to get in touch.
There were a number of members of the public around at the time, including some who came to the assistance of the injured men.
Officers have stressed that not everyone shown in the footage are suspects, but could be vital witnesses to what went on. They are urged to come forward.
Anyone with any information is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Harrogate Investigation Hub.
You can also emailinvestigationhubharrogate@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote reference number 12160144683 when passing on information.

Watch: CCTV captures mass brawl outside Bambinos takeaway in Harrogate


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Yorkshire's Strictly Come Dancing ex-champions Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova will quick step back home this weekend - to give free dance lessons to fans.
It coincides with the start of a new season of the hit BBC One show.
Strictly's most successful couple, now parents to one-year-old Valentina Rose, are returning to their family's City Limits Dancentre studio in Penistone Road, Sheffield.
They will take part in free taster sessions on Saturday, September 3, from noon to 2pm. Full details and more at www.city-limits.co.uk
City Limits is run by Sheffield born Darren's parents, former dance champions, Tony and Judith, and his twin brother Dale.
Darren, aged 39, and his Moscow wife Lilia, 37, are the most successful competitor couple of their generation, winning four British amateur championships, three UK championships and representing Great Britain at the World and European Championships.
They turned professional in 2003, winning the British National Professional Championship two years running and made the final of the World and European Championships.
But they became household names when they joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and won the show in consecutive years.
At his first attempt Darren, dancing with Jill Halfpenny from Eastenders, won the show and then went on to win the Champion of Champions dance off.
In 2005, Lilia waltzed off with the title while partnering Barnsley's own former Yorkshire and England cricketing star Darren Gough, after which they also went on to win the International Christmas special.
They went on to host their own West End show, Latin Fever, which they toured nationally and are today still regarded as one of Britain’s finest Latin American dance couples.
More recently they have worked on the Turkish and Lebanese versions of the Strictly TV show, Darren, born in Deepcar and brought up in Todwick, as a judge and Lilia as a consultant choreographer to the professional dancers.
Darren has also consulted on Danse Avec la Stars, the first series of the French version of Dancing with the Stars.
As well as being successful competitors and performers they have built up an International reputation as coaches, choreographers and first class trainers in both dance and corporate arenas.
They have also trained many of the top junior, youth and amateur couples, including the British Junior champions and No. 1 youth couple in the UK.
Darren's twin Dale said: "Strictly is back and we have Darren and Lilia joining us for an open day, with free taster sessions for children and adults to come along and see what being a student at City Limits is like.
"Fans can take part in one of our Ballroom and Latin classes led by Darren and Lilia.
"It runs from 2pm until 4pm, and we have a timetable of taster sessions throughout the day. Plus visitors can chat to our teachers and find out more about our new beginners' classes starting in September.
OPEN DAY TASTER CLASS SESSIONS
12.15-12.45pm: BALLROOM & LATIN WITH DARREN AND LILIA ALL AGES
12.30-1.00pm: STREETDANCE FOR ALL AGES 4-ADULT
12.30-1pm: BABY BALLET AND TAP
1.00-1.30pm : SALSA AND LATIN WITH DARREN AND LILIA
1.15-2pm: ZUMBA AND FITSTEPS TASTER
1.15-1.45pm: ADULT TAP
The pole fitness studio will also be open, for demonstrations and free workshops, from 12-2pm.
There will also be three Ballroom and Latin technique workshops for those wishing to develop their skills
2pm: Juvenile (under 12's), 45min, cost £5.
2.45pm: Junior (age 12 to 15), 45min, cost £5.
3.30pm, - Adult (age 16+), 60min, cost £8.
For more information about the open day and new class timetable, call he studio on 0114 234 4866 or visit www.city-limits.co.uk
Also visit Darren and Lilia's official website at www.darrenandlilia.com
* Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed this year's celebrity cast for the show, which returns on BBC One on Saturday, September 3, 6.50pm.
The line-up features EastEnders actor Tameka Empson, Birds of a Feather’s Lesley Joseph, former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, Pop Idol winner Will Young, former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, actor Danny Mac, newsreader Naga Munchetty, reality TV’s Judge Rinder, US singer Anastacia, model Daisy Lowe, GB long-jumper Greg Rutherford, gymnast Claudia Fragapane, presenters Laura Whitmore and Ore Oduba, DJ and presenter Melvin Odoom.
TV stars Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be on hosting duties with the judging panel of Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and – in his final year – Len Goodman. For more visit www.bbc.co.uk

Yorkshire's Strictly ex-champs to give free dance lessons at City Limits


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A DIY man who was asked to do a paint job at his neighbour’s house helped himself to £2,500 of cash - and even stole the home CCTV system.
Alan Keillar, 52, hid the cash tin and recording device in the victim’s shed after disconnecting the CCTV camera in an attempt to dodge the blame for the thefts at the property on Albany Road, Harrogate.
Keillar returned to the property a week later and left with the cash and CCTV system, York Crown Court heard.
Prosecuting barrister Heather Gilmore said Keillar had been entrusted to look after his neighbour’s house and decorate the property while the owner was away.
She added that such was the victim’s trust in Keillar he even told him he had money in the house.
When the neighbour returned to find his cash and home security equipment missing, he confronted Keillar who made vehement denials.
When police arrested him on suspicion of burglary and theft, he continued to plead his innocence.
He was bailed, but just over two months later he burgled another home in Harrogate by smashing a door panel and climbing through it, before stealing household items including a mobile phone.
“Neighbours saw him smashing his way in and one of them shouted at him, but he ignored her and carried on,” said Ms Gilmore.
Keillar was arrested again and charged with burgling the property in early May. Later that month a judge gave him a 14-month jail term for that offence and six months concurrent for separate offences of harassment and criminal damage.
Keillar, of Albany Road, was later charged with the first burglary at his neighbour’s house and eventually owned up. He appeared for sentence on Friday via video link from Hull Prison, where he is serving time for the burglary in May.
He pleaded guilty to burglary and theft at his neighbour’s house on February 25.
Defence barrister Andrew Stranex claimed Keillar had stolen to pay off debts and intended to repay his neighbour.
The court heard that his 34 previous convictions for 82 offences include fraud, numerous thefts and a house burglary in 2009.
Recorder Simon Jackson QC said Keillar had used “planning and cunning” by disconnecting the CCTV at his neighbour’s home so there was no closed-circuit footage of him taking the money.
Mr Jackson said the thefts represented a “serious breach of trust” and sentenced Keillar to two years in prison, which will run concurrently with his existing sentence.
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Court: Harrogate DIY man stole trusting neighbour’s cash... and CCTV system


AFTER five successful years at the helm, Yorkshire’s first-team coach, Jason Gillespie, this week revealed he would be leaving the club at the end of this season.
During his time at Headingley, he has overseen a period of tremendous success for the club, inheriting a team that had been relegated to Division Two of the County Championship before transforming them into an outfit capable of earning promotion back to the top tier at the first time of asking.
HHEADING HOME: Yorkshire first-team coach, Jason Gillespie. Picture: Simon Hulme
After finishing second in their first year back in Division One - pipped to the title they hadn’t won since in 2001 by Durham – they returned to the top of the tree two years in succession.
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Now, with four games remaining Yorkshire are still well-placed to make it three titles in a row and send Gillespie back home to South Australia on a perfect high.
The YP’s Chris Waters joins host Phil Harrison to discuss Gillespie’s departure, as well as reflecting on his time at the club and how his exit on Yorkshire CCC will impact on the club going forward.

CricketTalk: End of an era as Jason Gillespie prepares to exit Yorkshire CCC


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ONE man who deserves plenty of credit for Yorkshire’s progress to Finals Day is Alex Lees.
The 23-year-old opening batsman, who took over the leadership of Yorkshire’s one-day sides last December, has helped mastermind a stunning turnaround in form which sees Yorkshire as favourites with most bookmakers to lift the trophy.
As a young and inexperienced captain, Lees must have felt the pressure of Yorkshire’s poor start to the tournament more than most.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
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READ MORE - Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
But he has shown great character and maturity to help get their campaign back on track, and he said he is relishing the chance to lead them out at Edgbaston today.
“Definitely. It’s always an honour to represent the White Rose, so the opportunity to lead the side in a Finals Day is massive,” said Lees, who is Yorkshire’s youngest full-time limited overs captain having taken over the role from Championship leader Andrew Gale.
“I’ve not been to a Finals Day as a player before, but I have watched a few on television.
“The atmosphere is always electric, and I can’t wait to get out there and, hopefully, we can play some good cricket and entertain the crowd.”
Yorkshire go into today’s event with confidence high after seven wins in their last eight T20 games.
Lees attributes the transformation to the players discovering a sense of belief.
“We were obviously disappointed with the early-season results, but we never felt that we were far away from playing some very good cricket,” said Lees.
“I think the turning point in our white-ball cricket this season was Lythy’s (Adam Lyth) knock against Northants at Scarborough (in the Royal London Cup).
“He played with real freedom that day, and that has given the rest of the squad confidence to go out and express themselves in both competitions.
“We’ve got a lot of talented players, and everyone understands their roles and we’ve backed ourselves and taken a very positive approach, looking to put as much pressure as possible on the opposition.
“Hopefully, we can take take approach into the semi-final against Durham.”
Lees is expecting a tough test against a Durham team boosted by the return of England’s Ben Stokes. But he believes that his own side have more than enough firepower to beat them.
“Durham are a very good side with some very experienced players who know their games inside out,” said Lees.
“We will have to play very well to defeat them and to progress to the final, but we know that we have the players on the day to do just that.
“We’ve been playing some great T20 cricket at just the right time, and I’m confident in the strength of our team. Everyone’s been contributing, and it’s a proper team effort to get to this stage.”
No-one has contributed more than Lees, who is Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 272 at 22.66.
He is just ahead of David Willey, who has hit 269 runs at 29.88, while Lyth, Jack Leaning and Kane Williamson have also scored more than 200 runs for the county in this year’s competition, with Williamson having featured briefly as an overseas player before rejoining New Zealand for international action.
Tim Bresnan leads Yorkshire’s wicket-taking list with 20 at 16.20, with spinners Adil Rashid (14 at 18.85) and Azeem Rafiq (13 at 18.69) coming next on the chart.
“I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball nicely all season,” said Lees, who made 85 and 114 not out in the draw against Lancashire in the County Championship at Old Trafford last week.
“It was nice to get some runs in the Roses game, and, hopefully, I can take that form into the semi-final.”

T20 Finals Day: Adam Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum - Alex Lees


The driver of a stolen VW Golf who tried to evade officers during a dramatic high speed police chase through Harrogate last week, has been remanded in custody.
Police tracked the stolen car on CCTV after it failed to stop for officers in Starbeck on Thursday, August 18.
Culmination of high-speed police chase in Wetherby - image from NYP Road Crime Team
The driver of the VW Golf raced away from officers past the Empress Roundabout and down Wetherby Road before heading to Harewood.
Officers chased the stolen car through Spofforth before it was dramatically cornered on Bank Street in Wetherby.
The driver of the car, a 26-year-old man from Leeds, was wanted for two counts of burglary, one count of serious assault and for recall to prison.
He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods and dangerous driving. He appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court on Saturday, August 20, and was remanded in custody.
A 45-year-old woman from Wetherby and a 46-year-old man from Leeds were also arrested but were later released without charge.

Stolen VW driver charged after high-speed Harrogate to Wetherby police chase


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Yorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks had a muddy great time at Leeds Festival - they drew a crowd of more than 6,000 fans then camped out with them.
The Sheffield indie four piece turned down a five star hotel and proved they are a real band of the people.
After packing out the Festival Republic stage they decided to pitched a tent in one of the muddy camp sites.
Frontan Kiaran Crook, aged 20, revealed: "We played our set then decided to camp through the night. We had an option to go into a five star hotel, with a jacuzzi and everything, but we decided to camp.
"We just love it."
He then joked: "We ended up camping next to the Red Hot Chili Peppers- I could hear Anthony snoring.
"But no, seriously, we love it. We love a bit of mud. We just thought, we might as well have the full festival experience."
Melvin Benn, Reading and Leeds Festival boss, said: "I didn't know The Sherlocks went and pitched up in the camp site. It doesn't surprise me. It's what my kids do. They want to be in the public camp site. Anybody who thinks the VIP area is the place to be, I can tell you it's a bit more boring."
Other Yorkshire bands who played at Leeds over the weekend included Sheffield's The Wired, Liberty Ship, Bang Bang Romeo, Leeds band Dusk, Fighting Caravans, York based Faux Pas and many more.
The Sherlocks, also featuring Kiaran's brother, drummer Brandon, 23, guitarist Josh Davidson, 22, and his brother and bassist Andy, 17, recently played the biggest music festival in the world, SXSW in Austin, Texas.
The Sherlocks played to over 6,000 people then camped out with fans in muddy fields at Leeds Festival.
They also played at Reading Festival at the weekend but said Leeds, their Yorkshire homecoming, was the highlight of their year.
Kiaran added: "Leeds Festival is really important to us. It's given us a chance to pick up new fans. We had a blast. The tent was packed. It exceeded what we thought it would be.We're going on tour next month, starting in Brighton and finishing in Stockton, with a sold out gig in Leeds.
"It would be nice to do the NME/Radio 1 stage next year, I think that's where we are heading."
Brandon added: "We are at home when playing Leeds festival. Now we need to get an album out while we've got momentum behind us."
The Sherlocks, who will record their debut album later this year, begin a 16-date UK headline tour later this week, including a sold out show at The Wardrobe in Leeds, on Tuesday, September 20.
The Sherlocks at Leeds Festival
For full dates and tickets visit thesherlocksmusic.co.uk
The Sherlocks on stage at Leeds Festival

VIDEO: Sheffield's The Sherlocks camp in mud with fans after wowing Leeds Festival


Warren Burrell produced a superb individual goal in the 88th minute to seal a first Harrogate Town win at Bradford Park Avenue since 2005.
It looked as if Town’s Horsfall Stadium hoodoo would continue as a two goal first half lead was surrendered in the second half.
Luke Shiels and JP Pittman struck within four first half minutes of each other, both from Joe Leesley assists to put the visitors in a commanding position.
It could have been game over on the stroke of half time as Simon Weaver’s men were awarded a spot kick, only for Dan Eccles to keep out Chib Chilaka’s effort.
Alex Meechan’s men looked a different side after the restart, and were given hope of a comeback when Luke Dean found the net from the edge of the area 12 minutes into the half.
Dean then produced an even better finish in the 66th minute that looked to have earnt the hosts a point only for Burrell to produce a moment of magic in the final stages and send Town home with three points.
Tom Platt controls the ball during Saturday's fixture (Photo: Craig Hurle)
Weaver made one change from Tuesday night’s win at Gainsborough Trinity with Tom Platt replacing the suspended Lloyd Kerry, while Summer signing Wayne Brooksby was a late addition to the bench.
Despite a positive start from the hosts, Town created the first opening after eight minutes as Joe Leesley struck Lewis Turner’s cross first time into the hands of Dan Eccles.
Luke Shiels then found the net for the third time this season to give Town a 13 minute lead after Leesley had played a clever one-two with Chib Chilaka on the edge of the box before floating onto the head of the centre half.
Three minutes later and Town doubled their lead with Leesley turning provider yet again, picking up possession in midfield and playing through Pittman who struck low across goal to match the tally of his teammate Shiels.
Joe Colbeck featured against his former club (Photo: Craig Hurle)
Leesley produced another fine delivery after half an hour that Simon Ainge threw himself at to head home, though Town were denied a third as Ainge looked up to see the linesman’s flag raised for offside.
With ten minutes left of the half, Pittman went close to netting a second after Ben Parker’s clearance had blown towards the striker, only for the headed lob attempt to end up over the bar.
BPA created an opening of their own towards the end of the half, but Chris Sharp’s improvised finish was blocked, just moments before Chilaka struck a thunderous effort wide of the far post following Pittman’s flick.
In the final minute of the half Jack Emmett’s right wing cross was met by Leesley, only for the winger to be taken out by Eccles prompting referee Paul Newhouse to point to the spot.
Chilaka stepped up to take the kick and took aim for the bottom right corner, but was denied a goal on his return to Horsfall Stadium by Eccles’ impressive save.
Much like the first 45, Meechan’s men started well, but struggled to test Peter Crook in the Town goal despite a couple of early testing crosses.
12 minutes after the break the home side found the goal their start to the half had deserved after a ball into the box was cleared to the edge of the area only for Dean to despatch first time into the bottom left corner.
Bradford continued their early momentum and levelled the tie on 66 minutes when Dean produced another fine finish to cushion a pull back from the left wing into the top right corner with Crook beaten all ends up.
With the scores now level the next opportunity fell to the hosts’ Liam Dickinson, though the striker couldn’t keep his header from McKenna’s corner down.
Dickinson again tested Crook in the 86th minute, but it was two minutes later when Town midfielder Burrell produced a moment of magic to seal the three points.
The number four attacked the Bradford penalty area from the left before curling into the top left corner to win a well contested Yorkshire derby.
Harrogate Town: Crook, Turner, Parker, Burrell, Ainge, Shiels, Platt, Leesley, Chilaka (Colbeck 71), Pittman, Emmett (Day 80)
Subs not used: Ellis, Brooksby, Stewart
Goals: Shiels 13, Pittman 16, Burrell 88
Bradford Park Avenue: Eccles, Toulson, Davie, Dean, Killock (Coates 28), Hill, McKenna, Wroe, Sharp (Ryan 70), Dickinson, Osborne (McWilliams 57)
Subs not used: Payne, Boshell
Goals: Dean 57, 66
Booked: Dean, Dickinson
Attendance: 301
Referee: P Newhouse

Bradford Park Avenue 2-3 Harrogate Town: Burrell strikes screamer to clinch points


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Harrogate is to play host to the UK’s first-ever National Street Food and Family Fun Festival in a giant teepee village next weekend.
Scheduled to be held at Valley Gardens on August 26 to 29, the four-day event will start at 8am each and continue until 10.30pm with free entry and free entertainment.
And among the huge variety of food traders taking part from all over the country will be a top Harrogate restaurant known for its fine dining.
Some of the UK’s best street food traders, street performers, music, children’s activities, a vintage and artisan marketplace plus a fine dining and craft beer teepee village.
There will be an eclectic collection of traders with food from across the world in a whole host of unusual vehicles, horseboxes and AirStreams to Citreon H vans and camper vans.
Bright, colourful and full of characters, the hand-selected street food traders are set to add a flash of colour, exotica, tastes and smells to the Valley Gardens.
Food will include ice cream, waffles, artisan burgers, paella, mac n cheese, Ghanian, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Vvegan, wood fired pizza, Polish, Caribbean, Greek, rotisserie chicken, stuffed pittas, Bao Buns and Mexican.
The team at Harrogate restaurant Wild will be welcoming everyone to pop in for breakfast and lunch at the Teepee village during the National Street Food and Family Fun Festival.
Breakfast will be served from 8am-11:45pm, lunch is served from 11:45am-2:30pm, evening sittings are 6:30pm and 9pm.
The evening event is ticket- only with Wild cuisine amid the unique teepee setting and music playing while the sun sets over the Valley Gardens.
There are two sittings 6.30pm and 9pm with tickets only for a four-course experimental dinner, where Wild chef Jim Key will use nature’s finest produce to create an outstanding menu.
Located on Swan Road, Wild restaurant was the brainchild of Key himself.
The Bramhope-born chef was a finalist in The Great British Dish TV series and previously worked for some of the finest hospitality brands and restaurants around the country, including the Devonshire Arms in Bolton Abbey where he was first appointed head chef at the age of just 21.
As well as good, the fun on offer at the National Street Food and Family Fun Festival will include Naughty Tea Ladies, the Water Spa, Hedge Men and the SplatOMatic machine.
For more adult revellers, there will be a Craft Beer Tent with beers from Rudgate Brewery of York.
Harrogate Brewing Company will also have a presence and there will be live music from the Bagdhaddies.
More information at www.streatpr.co.uk

First-ever Street Food Festival coming to Harrogate


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A 17-year-old has died after taking drugs at Leeds Festival.
The teenager, who was from the Greater Manchester area, underwent emergency treatment in hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
Police were first alerted by staff from Leeds Festival shortly after 4.45pm.
The boy had been taken to St James’ Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition.
As two teenagers remain in custody on suspicion of drugs offences, the police have warned other festivalgoers against taking drugs.
Leeds Festival’s Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Keith Gilert, said: “Our thoughts are naturally with the family of the young man at this time. They were made aware of the incident by officers as soon as possible and were assisted to attend the hospital as quickly as possible. We will continue to support them through this difficult time.
“I would though like to take this opportunity to remind anyone attending the Festival that there is no safe way to take drugs. Taking any illegal drug carries a risk to health and we would always advise people against it, but I would ask that people are particularly conscious of the risks following this young man’s death.”
Investigations into his death and how he got the drugs are ongoing.
Early enquiries have indicated that he took the drugs immediately before collapsing.
Two 17-year-olds, also from the Greater Manchester area have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and are currently in custody.
A report will be sent to the Coroner in due course.
Chf Supt Gilert added: “In partnership with the organisers, Festival Republic, we will continue to take action against those who risk the lives of others by supplying drugs.”
“Anyone who has any concerns for either themselves or others at the Festival should contact Festival site or security staff or seek medical assistance.”

Teenager dies after taking drugs at Leeds Festival


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