THE well-known Melsa Consort, conducted by David Wigley, will present a concert of choral music in St Mary’s Church, Beverley, on Friday October 12, at 7.30pm.

The event is being held in association with the Rotary Club of Holderness and will raise money for the charity WaterAid, which provides clean water for millions of the poorest people of the world.

The Melsa Consort has performed concerts for 40 years across East and North Yorkshire and has a strong following, due largely to its programmes which appeal to a wide range of people.

The programme for the Beverley concert will range from high Renaissance music of Monteverdi and Byrd, through Romantic music by Mendelssohn, Stanford and Brucker to modern arrangements of British Folk songs.

The programme will include Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine and Cesar Franck’s Panis Angelicus, in which the organ accompaniment will be played by Colin Wright, former assistant organist at Beverley Minster. Colin will also perform two organ solos.

Tickets cost £8, including light refreshments available at the end of the concert.

They can be obtained from Beverley Tourist Information Centre, the Music Centre in Norwood, by ringing Geoff Phillips on (01482) 860944 or on the door on the night.

POLICE are investigating after 300 straw bales were destroyed in an arson attack at at farm in Neswick, Near Bainton.

The attack happned on Sunday September 30 and involved a stack was about 200 feet in area and 50 feet in height.

Police said that between 6pm and 7pm the stack has been left to await collection but someone set alight the bales, destroying all the straw to the value of approximately £5,000.

Police are appealing for information. Anyone who can help should phone 101 and quote crime reference 1933162.

Officers are also investigating a burglary in Brandesburton which happened over the weekend of Friday September 28 to Sunday 30.

Thieves forced entry to rooms above the garage of an address on Elm Tree Way Brandesburton and stole two bespoke cycles and electrical equipment. The owner believes that a vehicle would have had to be used to transport the goods. The two cycles are both unique, one is a red ‘Tarmac SL35 Works ZIPP404’ road cycle and the other is a chrome ‘Canondale Mountain Cycle’.

Between Sunday September 30 and Wednesday October 3 diesel was also stolen from the village when crominals approached a 4 x4 Isuzu vehicle parked on the drive way of a semi detached property down a cul-de-sac. Using an unidentified tool, the underside fuel drain plug was removed and the diesel fuel was removed.ime reference 1933802.

Land Rover parts stolen from Driffield Show Ground at around 2.30pm on Sunday September 30, when a Blue Land Rover Discovery VRM YW53CXV was left parked secure and unattended on the grass parking area. Someone approached the vehicle and by unknown means removed and stole the glass from the electric drivers side wing mirror before making off from the scene

The vehicle was fitted with an internal motion alarm but this did not activate as no entry gained into vehicle.

Meanwhile, between 6.30am and 7.00pm on Thursday October 4 criminals entered the open gated driveway and walked into the rear garden of the detached house in Middle Street, Kilham. A double size 6ft copper water tank covered in green insulation with the word ”Driffield” written on it in black marker pen was removed from the rear garden. It had been stored between the house and outbuildings, out of sight of passing traffic on the main road. The Tank would have required two people to lift due to its weight and a vehicle would also have been required to it transport away.

The owner has lived at the property for approx four years and his mother lived there 30 years previously and this is the first time he has had to report any incidents of this nature.

On a positive note, police said a female had been arrested for shop theft at Lidl, Driffield at around 5.30pm on Saturday September 29.

the middle aged woman stole a bottle of vodka and a bottle of Cherry Snapps from Lidl on Mill Street Driffield. She was seen to put the bottles in her handbag and walk out of the store without offering payment. Shortly after she was identified and arrested by the police for shop theft. During interview the female admitted to the theft and was subsequently bailed to a later date.

DRIFFIELD firms were the toast of the east coast business community during the annual Chamber Bridlington and Yorkshire Coast Business Awards at the resort’s Spa.

Now in its sixth year, the prestigious black-tie event has become on of the premier events on the Bridlington business calendar, and this year welcomed businesses from a much wider catchment area including Scarborough Borough, the City of Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Hosted by the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, hundreds attended the event, which was compered by BBC presenter Crispin Rolfe.

GWE Biogas at Kirkburn, near Driffield, walked away with the Best Green Business and the overall Business of the Year award.

Speaking after their first award, joint managing director Mathew Girking said: “It is nice to have some recognition and to be rewarded for the hard work that goes in to the business. We are delighted.”

The company, an Anaerobic Digestion plant designed to treat food waste and turn it into bio-methane to be used in fertiliser, also scooped the prestigious Business of the Year award.

Joint managing director Tom Megginson said: “There is immense pride at being recognised as Business of the Year. Sometimes it is easy to think that starting a business is a thankless task.

“In the current economy it is tough, but if you work hard then you can make the most of the situation. Getting recognised is a reward for all the hard work everyone puts in.”

Wolds Cottage Kitchen in Wetwang won the Best Start Up Business Award.

Melanie Moss, proprietor of Wolds Cottage Kitchen, which has been in business for 18 months making handmade preserves, said: “We have gone from nothing to sky high in the space of 18 months, I am elated to win the award.

“We have won two world marmalade awards, and two golden stars for our products. It helps your profile and credibility with other businesses.”

The evening featured entertainment from the Snake Davis band, whilst Mike Hyman, of the charity Kids n Cancer which was the beneficiary on the evening, also spoke.

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, also gave a speech to the gathered business men and women.

Coun Jane Evison, portfolio holder for rural issues and cultural services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, attended the event and said: “We are seeing different types of businesses here tonight and it is testament to the hard work and talent we have in the area.

“It is impressive to see how many good and diverse businesses with sich high standards are nominated for these awards.

“It is good for the local business community, and it is good for Bridlington to hold such an event.”

Other winners on the night were Yarrows Aggregates, of Catwick who won the Best Small Business award, GF Smith of Hull who won the Best medium/large business, Best Social Enterprise winners, Seachange in Scarborough and Sewell Group of Hull, who won the Best Training Business.

The only Bridlington representative, AB Graphics in Carnaby, could not make it to the event which saw Shipham Valves of Hull scoop the Best International Business Award.

David Dowson, of Lloyd Dowson Accountants, said that he thought more Bridlington businesses would take part next year.

He said: “The evening was well supported in a tough economic climate, and it shows how good business is along this coastline.

“No doubt there will be more Bridlington businesses here next year. There will be a lot of opportunity here with the AAP.”

Funds raised in a raffle on the night will go to the Kids n Cancer charity, while a silent auction was held on behalf of Cerebral Palsy Sport.

MEMBERS of the Bell Hotel Gym, headed by Driffield man John Taylor have raised thousands of pounds for a Diabetes charity.

Gym members met the ‘Diabetes challenge’ set by John which saw them climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks as well as cycle and row 108 miles in the gym.

John walked 108 miles of the Cleveland Way from Helmsley to Filey .

They journey saw John camp out for three nights whilst undertaking the challenge.

John and the ‘Diabetes challenge’ participants have raised £2,000 for Diabetes UK.

John, who initiated and co-ordinated the fund raising has thanked all the participants and their sponsors.

The keen fund raisers handed over a cheque for £2,000 to Diabetes UK at a ceremony held at the Bell Hotel on Monday October 8.

Diabetes UK funds research into the causes, treatments and cure of diabetes and supports people with diabetes, their families and carers.

A WOMAN told a jury she was raped at knife point by a man who stalked her and threatened to kill her with a knife and then himself.

The woman said Graham Kelly, 58, took her by surprise after she had just finished feeding ponies at a stable. She said he vaulted a fence holding a knife and took her to a stable block.

The woman told the jury: “He told me to drop my pants and turn around. He said: “I am going to make love to you before I put this knife into you and kill myself.”

She said she only consented because he had the knife at her throat.

Graham Kelly, 58, of Eastgate South, Driffield, has gone on trial at Hull Crown Court pleading guilty to possession of the knife, but denying a charge of rape.

The court heard at the time he was jobless living in a bedsit and complaining he had no money or future. He had lost his job.

Crown barrister Martin Sharp said Kelly had taken to stalking the woman at the Tesco supermarket and once turning up on her doorstep at her home.

He told the jury: “The prosecution say you can be sure of the evidence of the victim and that he is guilty of rape. At the time he had a knife and the only reason she consented was because of the knife.”

The woman told the jury in a video interview he had jumped the fence. “He pushed me back into the stable using the knife. I let out two or three screams. He was holding the knife at the side of me. He said I am going to make love to you before I put the knife in you and kill myself.”

She said when the attack stopped she began wittering uncontrollably until she could think of a way for him to put down the knife. She said out of fear of the situation she told him she loved him and so agreed for him to come to her house and talk to him. She said she set off on her bike with Kelly following in his car. She formulated a plan to speak to a dog-walking neighbour and tell him to ring the police as a man was following her with a knife.

She said she tried to smile as she told the neighbour what she needed him to do. She left the door unlocked and allowed the attacker to walk into her house. She left him walk in and made him a cup of coffee. The police appeared at her home and spoke to the victim before arresting Kelly. He was taken to Bridlington Police station for questioning.

They found the knife in his car and three suicide letters. He had written to the woman once telling her: “I am going to do something stupid.” She ignored the letter.

Kelly denies rape. He told the police it was consensual sex. The woman admitted she did not fight back because the knife was next to her.

The trial continues.

Construction of the A164 Humber Bridge to Beverley Route Improvement Scheme continue to progress swiftly in the Cottingham/Willerby area, at Skidby and along the A164 towards Beverley.

Pipe work, forming part of the scheme’s drainage system, is now substantially completed in the vicinity of Willerby (Ketch) roundabout and between the Willerby and sports centre roundabouts. Gully pots have been installed, kerbing works have commenced and excavation for the new footpath towards Willerby have also taken place. In addition, electricity, gas and telecommunication cable diversions have taken place at Willerby (Ketch) roundabout.

Street lighting has been installed along the new footpath/cycleway link between Castle Hill Road and Eppleworth Road, which is nearing completion, and drainage works are ongoing along the Eppleworth embankment to the north of Castle Hill roundabout All businesses along the route remain open.

Humberside Police is playing host to a group of 12 Polish police officers visiting the area as part of a developmental training exercise supported by the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Programme.

The visit has been agreed between Humberside Police and the Voivoidship HQ of Police in Krakow and whilst principally being aimed at delivering training to the visiting officers, it also provides Humberside officers with a learning opportunity.

Humberside Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Donald said: “We hope to learn a lot from hosting policing colleagues from Poland which will help us support Polish members of our communities as well as those visiting this country in the future.

A SKILLS sharing day was combined with a harvest festival celebration for residents of a reirement home.

Staff at The Willows care home, Burton Fleming, organised a skills swap-shop day as part of the annual Older People’s Day, and residents shared their skills and learned new ones such as flower arranging, on Wednesday 3 October.

St Cuthbert’s Church, Burton Fleming, visited the home to conduct a Harvest service, for which residents donated produce.

Jean Brilly, manager at The Willows, said: “It was incorporating a doing and worshipping day.

“The time donated by people was more precious to us than money. It is a month for promoting age in the UK, and sharing skills and experience between generations. Whether it went from young to old or vice versa it was still good.”

UK Older People’s Day is a Government intitiative which challenges stereotypes and gets people to think differently about the contribution older people make to society.

THE future of Driffield and District Skate and BMX PArk has reached a watershed following the resignation of two founding trustees.

So the club committee contacted the town council to ask if it would be able to “assist to ensure their future.”

The plea was discussed by the town council last week and members agreed to form a working party to look into the Driffield Skate and BMX Park and how, if at all, the Town Council may assist them in the future.

The working party will consist of retired accountant Coun Phil Stocker, local businessman Coun Mark Blakeston and newcomers Coun Matthew Garrard and Coun Kevin Stack.

They will meet with members of the Skate Committee and look through relevant documentation such as accounts.

Town council clerk Mrs Claire Binnington said: “Their remit will be to assess a way to move forward, ways which may or may not involve the Town Council.

“A final report will be presented to the town council at some time in the near future and it will be entirely up to council members as a whole if further action is taken.”

Since its inception, the Skate Park has been autonomous, approaching the council only for moral support when apply for grant bids and donations.

The committe would now like to enlist more help from the council but understand that such a commitment would require considerable research, investigation and discussion so the committee have asked at this stage only for the council to simply look at the operation of the skate park.

l The Skate Park will holding its AGM on Thursday October 11 at 7.30pm at Cass Hall, King Street, Driffield. The committee is looking for new volunteers who can help out at our various fundraising events and generally help with the running of the park. Everyone welcome.

POLICE are appealing for information about an assault that took place in Neville Avenue in Beverley on Sunday September 30 in the early hours of the morning.

An 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were walking home together when they were approached by two other men.

A verbal altercation is believed to have taken place between the four men before the 18-year-old and the 20-year-old were assaulted by one of the other men.

The 20-year-old suffered a suspected broken jaw, a bruised cheek bone, a suspected broken nose and a black eye.

The 18-year-old sustained cuts and bruises to his lip and injury to the back of his head. Both men received treatment at Hull Royal Infirmary.

The incident took place between 3am and 3.30am, and police are asking anyone who witnessed it to ring them on 101, quoting crime reference 1933761.

A BEVERLEY businessman who built a £1million property empire of nine homes with the help of a fake passport was found driving a Bentley Continental without a licence.

Turkish-born Bahadir Telli, 29, was stopped by Greater Manchester Police on the M6 after receiving information an un-insured driver was at the wheel of a luxury convertible.

Father-of-two Telli, of St Nicholas’ Drive, Beverley, was in breach of his driving ban imposed for drink-driving. More seriously he was also in breach of a nine-month suspended prison sentence imposed for a period of two years by Hull Crown Court for using a fake Italian passport. He risked being jailed.

Telli entered the UK in 2003 on a tourist visa and set about building a fast food and property business. At the age of 23 he was granted leave to stay in the UK in 2006 as a self-employed businessman - but was never granted citizenship.

Hull Crown Court heard before the age of 24 he had bought nine properties seeing an opportunity in the booming housing market. The homes were in Westwood Road, Beverley and Robin Close, Brough. They were mortgaged as buy-to-let properties. All were made using a counterfeit, Italian passport given to him by his father stating he was born in Rome when in fact he was born in a district of Ankara.

He would have got away with his dealings, but for the fact the property market crashed. Many of his tenants were unable to pay their mortgages and he went bankrupt. After emerging from bankruptcy in March 2010 he still owned a flat in Westwood Road, Beverley and a house in Sharp Street, Hull.

Prosecuting in the last hearing Crown barrister Nigel Clive said Telli last appeared at Hull Crown Court in April 2011 for using a false passport to get loans.

Mr Clive said Telli appeared for sentence for driving while disqualified and having no insurance after being stopped near Manchester on December 28 2011.

He said Telli was banned from driving on November 7 2011 for failing a road side breath test and refusing to give a specimen of breath at a police station.

Telli admited driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Defence barrister Harold Bloomfield said: “The disqualification from driving has hit Mr Telli hard.” He said it was his misfortune to be stopped the first time he had driven the luxury Bentley.

Recorder Anthony Hawks told Telli: “You are a young man with considerable skills in various areas of life, but you are going the right way about going to prison. You were made the subject of a suspended prison sentence last April. Since then you were disqualified from driving. With the ink barely dry on that ban you were out driving another vehicle. I sentence you on the basis this was the first time you had driven the vehicle. But I have grave suspicions about your attitude to the ban.”

He fined Telli £1,000 and endorsed his licence with six points and imposed a £15 surcharge.

A DRINK out with friends turned into trouble after a man was removed from a pub for being drunk and disorderly.

Pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place, John Matthew Hutchinson, 25, of Riverside, Driffield, appeared at magistrates court on Wednesday 3 October.

Hutchinson was at the Brunswick Hotel, Manor Street, Bridlington, on Thursday 20 September and had consumed six to seven pints.

Sally Robinson, prosecution solicitor, said: “Police go to Brunswick Hotel on reports of a fight but there is no fight, the landlady simply wants Mr Hutchinson removing from the premises as he is drunk.”

In mitigation for himself Hutchinson said: “I was sat in the pub where I was at and having a laugh and joke with my friends.

“All of a sudden these people came and attacked me. I tried to fight them off.”

Daniel Curtis, district judge, said: “Well your record indicates to me that you are a fairly persistent nuisance. What are you going to do to make sure that you don’t return to court?”

Hutchinson told D J Curtis he was receiving counselling for his drinking.

Hutchinson was given a £50 fine with £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

D J Curtis said: “You now owe the court a large amount of money that is all to do with your drinking.

“Hopefully we won’t see you in the future.”

ROGUE clampers are faced with new laws which ban them from immobilising a vehicle.

Greg Knight, the Member of Parliament for East Yorkshire has welcomed new laws banning wheel clamping and the towing away of vehicles, which take effect this week.

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act it is now a criminal offence to clamp, tow, block-in or immobilise a vehicle on private land punishable by an unlimited fine in the Crown Court or up to £5,000 in a Magistrates Court.

Mr Knight waged a long campaign at Westminster for the introduction of the ban and said: “I welcome this rational ban which will end the scandal of heavies and thugs clamping cars and then charging exorbitant release fees. From today, if anyone has their car clamped they should call the police.

“This will save motorists £55 million each year and turn the tables on the real criminals: the rogue firms themselves.”

With the introduction of these changes landowners will also be protected by strengthening of laws around ticketing on private land and a new Independent Appeals Service will be established.

Police will also be given new powers to remove obstructive or dangerously parked cars vehicles on private land.

A ROAD is to be resurfaced this month with work expected to continue for six days.

Driffield Road, Molescroft, between the Molescroft and Driffield Road roundabouts are set to receive the maintenance work from Monday October 15, continuing for six working days.

Temporary traffic lights will be in operation, but to minimise disruption engineers will only work between 9.15am and 3.15pm Monday to Friday, in order to avoid peak times.

Residents living in The Lawns will still have access and pedestrian walkways will be maintained at all times.

For further information contact project engineer, Dave Berry, on 01482 395715.

A YORKSHIRE tribute festival has been nominated for three awards in a national competition.

Tribfest, East Yorkshire’s annual tribute festival is up for the Best Small Festival, Best Family Festival and the all important Best Toilets award at the National UK Festival Awards 2012, which is being held at the Roundhouse in London on Monday 3 December.

The festival first ran in 2007 and has bloomed into a family-friendly event which attracted 4,000 revellers this year at Sledmere House in August.

Over a hundred acts performed at the festival showcasing tribute bands, unsigned bands, acoustic acts and up and coming comedians in the Laughing Bull Comedy Marquee.

Event Director Ed Faulkner said: “We have developed a very talented and enthusiastic team over the past five years, and an army of event volunteers.

“Whilst we would be grateful for national recognition any awards would recognise the work of the Tribfest team to develop a successful home grown festival here in East Yorkshire.”

The festival awards recognise a range of festivals ranging from Glastonbury to small family events such as Tribfest and this years award will be judged by festival goers.

Tribfest fans will have the opportunity to vote online for the festival and by voting for Tribfest, you can also enter into the ‘Dream Summer’ prize draw to win two VIP tickets to every festival that wins an award, plus a chance to win a new iPad 3.

You can vote for tribfest at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ukfa2012 or by clicking the voting links on www.tribfest.co.uk.

Tribfest returns once again during the summer of 2013 at Sledmere House from the 15 August to 18 August. Both tickets and further information about the festival can be found at www.tribfest.co.uk.

A WOMAN needed hospital treatment after she was savagely beaten during a vicious assault in Driffield.

The attack happen ed as the 20 year old woman was walking along Middle Street South, Driffield, close to the Betfred shop.

She heard a number of footsteps behind her, before it is alleged she felt something strike the back of her head.

The woman turned around and is alleged to have received a strike to her face.

The woman then fell to the ground and it is believed an unknown male came to her assistance before she was taken to Scarborough Hospital where she received treatment for two black eyes, a swollen nose and lumps to the head.

POLICE are appealing for information about the assault which happened between 2.45am and 3.30am on Sunday September 16.

Police want to hear from the member of the public who assisted the woman or anyone who may have information. Call Humberside Police tel 101 quoting crime reference 1931571.

A THREATENING yob, who used a plaster arm as a weapon, was told he was the reason decent people do not go out at night in Driffield town centre.

Judge Mark Bury said the fear of becoming involved or witnessing violence like the type James Cheetham, 23, revelled in put people off enjoying Driffield’s late night attractions.

Judge Bury was speaking after watching CCTV of Cheetham aim a penalty-style kick at the head of Wayne Smith.

Smith was laid on the ground surrounded by a mob attacking him and his brother on July 15 in Driffield.

Crown barrister Mark Kendall told Hull Crown Court Cheetham had a plaster pot on his arm and used it to punch one man then launch a kick or a stamp on a male on the ground.

The fighting initially took place in Market Place and moved around the town over 15 minutes of mayhem. Mr Kendall said: “Mr Cheetham swung the plaster cast on his arm on to the head of one man. He fell to the floor and the defendant kicked him to the head three times. He returned and kicked Wayne Smith on the floor.”

He said the Smith brothers were drunk and neither made formal complaints to the police.

He said a female eye witness had been the subject of offensive remarks and telephoned the police.

Cheetham, of Old Yard Close, Hutton Cranswick, appeared at court for sentence on Friday (October 5) after pleading guilty to a single charge of affray. He has a previous police caution for affray when he was caught fighting in the street leaving his victim with a bloody nose.

When approached by police community support officers he swore at them. He also has two further cautions.

Defence barrister Richard Thompson said Cheetham felt aggrieved he was the only one in the dock. He said of the five people initially arrested and charged with offences, he was the only one to face justice.

He said Cheetham was agitated having seen the violence from an upstairs house window. He went out to join in, before returning to the flat and going out again for more.

He said Cheetham had seen a pregnant girl he knew being assaulted.

Sentencing Judge Bury ordered Cheetham to stand as he told him: “You have come very close to going to prison today. You realise that yourself. You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence of affray, that on your part involved kicking a person while on the floor.

“It is behavour like this that stops decent people going into Driffield town centre at night because they don’t want to get involved or witness it.”

He gave Cheetham a 36-week suspended prison sentence and banned him from every pub and restaurant bar in Driffield for 12 months.

A WOMAN is alleged to have been assaulted as she was working in a bar in Driffield.

The incident happened in The Lounge Bar, Market Place, on Friday September 21 between 3.50pm and 4pm.

The 24-year-old woman was approached by a man who was known to her who proceeded to shout at her. It is alleged he then grabbed her round the neck and dragged her across the room and behind the bar where he further assaulted her.

The victim sustained a cut to the chin and bruising to the arms, legs and neck for which she sought medical attention.

Police are investigating the incident and are seeking independent witnesses to the altercation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Humberside Police on the non emergency number 101 referring to log number 245 of 21 September 2012 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

CHANGES in council tax benefit which will have a major impact on thousands of households in the East Riding came under fire at last week’s full meeting of East Riding Council.

The council has been carrying out a consultation on the changes, which they say will result from a reduction in Government funding available to local authorities to implement a new council tax benefit scheme.

The changes will only affect working age households, as pensioners are protected, but the council says many households in the East Riding will be affected because of changes that are entirely the result of Government policy.

From April 1 next year the Government is abolishing the current benefit scheme, which helps low or no-income households to pay their council tax.

All local authorities have been required by the Goverment to design their own local schemes to support those who need help with their council tax.

The Government is reducing the funding available to councils to deliver the scheme, and in the East Riding funding will be reduced by at least £2.5m in 2013/2014. Savings have to be made by either cutting the support provided to working age claimants or finding savings elsewhere in the council’s budget.

The council is considering three options for a new scheme, its preferred option being the one that limits the amount of help residents can receive towards their council tax bill to 75%. This means that every working age household in the East Riding will have some council tax to pay.

The council’s Labour group told the full council meeting that the proposed reduction in council tax benefit would hit 11,525 low paid households in the county.

The Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Pat O’Neil, called on the council to follow the example of Tory councils in the Prime Minister’s constituency and find the necessary savings from the council’s budget.

The Labour group’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Keith Moore, said: “These proposals are designed to hit yet again those low paid workers who are in pay freezes and are on such low pay they rely on these benefits for a living wage.”

The Conservative council Leader, Councillor Stephen Parnaby, said the authority has to make difficult decisions by reducing the amount of help people can have towards their council tax bills or by finding additional savings from elsewhere in the council budget.

He stressed that the changes to council tax benefit are entirely the result of Government policy and not anything decided locally by the authority.

The council approved an amendment by Deputy Leader Councillor Jonathan Owen that local MPs should be asked to make the Government aware of the impact of the changes on the East Riding.

The amendment said that the authority would await the results of the current consultation with residents and then ask MPs to ensure that the Government is made aware of the particular issues affecting the East Riding, in the light of figures showing the rate of increase of 65-year-olds in the East Riding is twice the national average.

“This age profile and the requirement to protect pensioners currently receiving benefit will have a disproportionate effect on the rest of our residents currently on benefits and we need to understand fully the long-term effects when coupled with other benefit reforms in the offing,” it said.

The consultation was due to end this week (October 12).

Information about the changes can be found on the council’s website at www.eastriding.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport.

THE annual Local and Family History Bookfair will be held in the Treasure House at Beverley on Saturday October 20.

The bookfair is hosted by the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service and is now in its 26th year. The event will be opened by the chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Coun Chad Chadwick, at 10am.

The bookfair provides a meeting point and focus for everyone interested in local and family history and heritage. This year there are 25 organisations taking part, including the archives and local studies service, local and family history societies, local publishers, booksellers and specialist interest groups.

The event is an opportunity to buy a wide range of books, pamphlets and maps, as well as a chance to meet other local and family history enthusiasts.

The fair will also host the launch of the archives’ own range of DVDs, made up of footage from the film and sound archives in the Treasure House.

The range comprises eight, one-hour presentations on topics including Beverley in the days of ‘black and white’, 1960s Beverley, the East Yorkshire railways in the 50s and 60s before Dr Beeching, Beverley industry and many more.

The films provide a nostalgic view of East Riding heritage and this is the first opportunity to buy the DVDs.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The fiar will be open from 10am to 4pm. For more information, contact the archives and local studies service on (01482) 392790.