the Mayor of Knaresborough Margy Longhurst joined some of the students from Craft and Social to launch the installation outside Knaresborough House VE Day will be celebrated on 8th May to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe A spokesperson for Knaresborough Town Council said: “We wish to thank all the students and staff at Craft and Social for making this beautiful silhouette as part of our town’s commemoration of VE Day 80th Anniversary “We hope many residents and visitors will be able to enjoy this brilliant installation over the next week as the silhouette stands outside Knaresborough House as part of the town’s celebration and remembrance.” “VE Day 80 is not only a tribute to those who fought for freedom but also a powerful reminder of the resilience and unity that have defined our country ever since.” Knaresborough Town Council is holding a VE Day 80th Anniversary community event in the Castle grounds from 6pm on Thursday 8th May Residents are invited to join them for a shared moment of celebration and reflection to commemorate the historic national anniversary The event will conclude with the lighting of the beacon at the town War Memorial Advertise with us Site by Show + Tell In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. Wildflowers. Photo: Pixabay.Four of the biggest names in the district's horticultural community will be on the panel of a 'green' Gardening Question Time in Knaresborough this month The event has been organised by the Knaresborough Forest Park team at Long Lands Common as a fun way to learn about sustainable gardening practices There will also be a brief presentation by a member of Knaresborough Town Council outlining Knaresborough's biodiversity policy The Knaresborough Gardening Question Time will be held at the Centre on Gracious Street on Wednesday with prizes including vouchers from local businesses and a family pass to Harlow Carr Gardens Tickets cost £10 and are available from Castlegate Books in Knaresborough (cash only), the Red Box in Starbeck, and online here It’s part of ‘Love Your Local Market’ fortnight The national initiative is designed to celebrate and support vibrant local markets And North Yorkshire Council is offering free one-day pitches at markets including Ripon and Knaresborough Successful applicants will get a one-day pitch at their selected market - but will need to bring their own gazebos A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Council said: “To ensure a smooth and successful experience applications must provide proof of right to work in the UK photo ID and food hygiene certificates.” Stallholders will be given the choice of markets in Thirsk For more information and to book your pitch, email ParksandGroundsCommercial@northyorks.gov.uk Mahmoud MohammadiA masseur has today been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman during a deep-tissue massage Mahmoud Mohammadi, 60, from Harrogate, massaged the woman on an intimate area during relaxation therapy at his salon in Knaresborough said that Mohammadi had moved the towel which was covering the victim’s body and then sexually assaulted her Ms Pencheon said the victim was initially “relaxed and comfortable” at the start of the massage at the salon on Market Place face down with her back and the back of her legs being massaged,” added Ms Pencheon It was when Mohammadi told her to turn over the massage took a more sinister turn she felt the towel moving,” said Ms Pencheon As the victim tried to tuck the towel back under her arms Mohammadi started massaging an intimate part of her body The victim “almost immediately” pulled the towel back up and used her arms to cover herself but then Mohammadi “leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead” The victim was “scared” and “wanted to get out of there” as there was no one else on the premises at the time Mohammadi then asked her if she knew the “biting technique” called her friend but didn’t report the incident to police until four days later because she was “in shock” was questioned by police but denied any wrongdoing He was charged with sexual assault but denied the allegation Mohammadi said “things had been normal” during the massage in the winter of 2022 He claimed he didn’t remove the victim’s towel touch her on an intimate area nor kiss her on the forehead which left his career as a masseur in tatters He appeared for sentence today (April 30) aided by a Farsi interpreter In a statement read out by the prosecution the victim said she “no longer felt safe going out alone” wary of strangers” and avoided situations where she might be alone with a man The psychological toll of the incident had been profound she had since received counselling and suffered with anxiety and depression “The journey to recovery is ongoing and the effects of the ordeal shapes her daily life in ways she can never have imagined,” said Ms Pencheon Defence barrister Jessica Strange said that Mohammadi continued to deny the allegation She said he had an “unblemished record as a masseuse for the last 10 years” and had been working “right up until the trial” but had now “lost his livelihood” due to his conviction he would lose his home and it would be “extremely difficult for him thereafter to get any work at all” Judge Deborah Sherwin said Mohammadi had taken advantage of the fact that he was alone with the woman The assault was aggravated by the fact that the “traumatised” victim was “afraid it might go further” Ms Sherwin said she suspected that Mohammadi thought the victim was asleep when he moved the towel and sexually assaulted her “(The victim) said she was very frightened and upset by what happened,” added Ms Sherwin She noted character references that attested to Mohammadi being “well-regarded…as a masseuse” and said it was a “one-off that because Mohammadi was “unable to accept what you have done” looking at the seriousness of the offence (and) the effect that it had upon (the victim) I’m of the view that the only appropriate punishment can be achieved by immediate custody,” said the judge Mohammadi was given a one-year jail sentence but was told he would only serve half of that behind bars before being released on prison licence He was ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for the next 10 years and was made subject to a 10-year sexual-harm prevention order which prohibits him taking up employment that involves direct contact with female members of the public without the prior approval of police and his offender-management unit and without any prospective employer having prior knowledge of his criminal conviction Police footage of the arrest.A man and a woman have been arrested following a high-speed police chase North Yorkshire Police today said the pair were caught in the early hours of this morning (April 30) following a pursuit that culminated in Knaresborough A vehicle believed to be linked to drug dealing failed to stop for officers The car drove off towards Harrogate along the A59 and through local villages which led the car to stop near a residential street but police located him at a nearby address The 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving failing to stop for the police and suspected vehicle theft was arrested on suspicion of theft of a vehicle Both currently remain in police custody for questioning It happened at about 8am on Monday 21st April and involved a man leaning under the screens to reach behind the till area.  “We'd particularly like to speak to a man pictured on CCTV in the store as he may have important information that could assist the investigation “Please email megan.midwood@northyorkshire.police.uk if you recognise him.  you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Megan Midwood or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.” Please quote reference 12250070233 when passing on information The vehicle drove off towards Harrogate along the A59 and through local villages Officers laid a stinger device near Bond End resulting in the vehicle coming to a stop in a nearby residential street where a man was seen to run off from the car officers found the suspect at a nearby address where he was arrested The 47-year-old was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving failing to stop for the police and suspected theft of a vehicle Both remain in police custody for questioning at the time of writing The free event will be held at Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre on Sunday 16th March showcasing an array of holistic stalls and workshops It was created by Annie Wilkinson-Gill of The Crystal Buddha with the aim of bringing together local businesses within the complementary therapy industry to showcase their offering A huge selection of complementary therapies will be available on the day Organiser Annie Wilkinson-Gill told Your Harrogate: “Henshaws art college is a wonderful location for the event and I hope by holding the event here it helps to raise awareness of the centre and contribute much-needed funds.  “Henshaws provides an integral service to our community here in Knaresborough and is the heart of inclusivity.” The festival will feature a selection of stalls selling books Workshops available on the day will include a sound bath Plus there will be live music and talks with Edwin Courtenay.  “The event is a fantastic opportunity for like-minded people and businesses to network and it increases footfall to Knaresborough encouraging people to shop in Knaresborough town centre too.” The event will run from 10am until 4pm on Sunday 16th March at Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre Find out more via the Knaresborough Wellness Festival Facebook page here Earlier this month, Your Harrogate reported that Mr Swainston's will be opening a new shop in the town following the success of its first location in South Shields The "traditional" sweet shop offers a variety of treats including traditional and retro sweets And owners John Gray and Sean Robinson have now revealed their new shop will be opening in place of River and Rose on Market Place with the aim of opening later in the month and met with the lovely current occupier Kirsty who allowed us in to begin measuring up ready for our refurb and launch “More information on the exact opening date to follow but we are so excited to get things underway “We’ve already had orders from Knaresborough via our website and you can take a look at who we are and what we do by following our social media or visiting our website “We can’t wait to meet everyone and bring our Traditional Sweet Shop to such a beautiful location.” Find out more about Mr Swainston's online here and keep an eye on their social media channels for more details ahead of the launch.  organised by Laura Dudley of Painting Pots has raised more than £17,000 for charities since it started in 2018 Visitors to the town are invited to hunt for ceramic bunnies hidden at various shops around the town between Saturday 5th and Monday 21st April The chosen charities for this year’s hunt are Saint Michael’s hospice Andy’s Man Club and The Kingfisher Kiosk “This Easter-based event aims to show off Knaresborough while providing local businesses with increased footfall and marketing provide a cheap event for locals and visitors and raise money for local charities and causes.  “Hopefully The Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt benefits everyone!”  Participants can purchase a map for the event Completed maps can then be handed back to the sellers for a sweet treat A winning map is then drawn from that day’s entries to win prizes donated by local businesses.  the bunnies are auctioned off with a certificate of authenticity raising more money for the chosen charities £17,184 has been raised for local charities to date Aspin School mental health fund, Lauren Doherty Road Safety Talks and Memory Lane Cafe among those benefitting Follow The Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt on Facebook here for updates on this year's event Harrogate Magistrates Court.A Knaresborough man was described as the most violent person a police officer had ever encountered Maciej Olejczuk, of Charlton Grove, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court charged with five offences – all of which he pleaded guilty to He admitted one count of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and four counts of assaulting an emergency worker by beating told the court a number of police officers were called to an address in Knaresborough at around 11pm on April 13 this year Officers were responding to a report about the defendant who was described as “drunk and kicking off” the person who contacted them did not want to press any charges and just wanted Olejczuk out of their house The defendant initially told police he would leave and go to Starbeck – police even offered to drive him there – but his behaviour quickly changed became aggressive and started swearing towards neighbours The defendant started shouting and swearing and the police were trying to calm him down He then turned his aggression towards the officers One named police officer said she was “genuinely frightened by Olejczuk due to his size and build" One of the officers grabs him by the shoulders but he shrugs them off easily They grabbed him again and were able to move him to the police vehicle The defendant then grabbed an officer and refused to let go Police used pressure points on the defendant and he fell on the floor Olejczuk started “kicking out” at the officers who eventually dragged him to get him into the vehicle Ms Ibbotson said the defendant spat at an officer and told the court one officer described him as “the most violent person I have ever encountered” told the court Olejczuk had got into an argument with someone on the night of the incident He said the defendant had no intention of assaulting police officers that night Mr Ahmed conceded Olejczuk is a “big guy” but added that is “just his natural build” The court heard Olejczuk suffers from a number of health issues The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared Olejczuk will return to court for sentencing on May 29 It happened on the footway from Waterside to Castle Ings Road on 9th March 2025 at around 3:15pm A dispute over parking resulted in the victim being punched in the face by another female who was the front seat passenger of a white BMW.  Officers are appealing for CCTV footage or information that may assist with the investigation If you can assist, please contact PC352 Michael.smith1@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting reference 12250042571 The event raises thousands of pounds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Your Harrogate is proud to be covering the Tractor Run on air, all thanks to Simon Graeme Auto Service Centre.   For more information about the event visit theknaresboroughtractorrun.org Headteacher Helen Tomlinson with pupils of St Mary's Primary School.This article is free to read. Help support independent local journalism by subscribing to the Stray Ferret for as little as 14p per day. Just click here The headteacher of a Knaresborough primary school is “absolutely delighted” with her school’s recent Ofsted report St Mary’s Primary School was graded ‘good’ by Ofsted in 2019 before a change in report structure removed the overall grades given to schools The school was rated ‘good’ in all five categories: quality of education found that the school had “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection” Pupils form very warm relationships with school staff and with each other This helps pupils to be happy and feel safe The school has high expectations of pupils including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) They respond positively to the school’s high expectations and guidance The school is part of The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust which is run by chief executive Darren Beardsley and overseen by a board of trustees These people share responsibility with headteacher Helen Tomlinson for the running of the school Inspectors praised the school’s curriculum and teaching saying that it is “logically organised” and that teachers display strong subject knowledge to reinforce it A focus on reading and mathematics in the school ensures that its pupils have a firm foundation for future learning Fundamental British Values and the school’s ‘virtues to live by’ are woven throughout the curriculum Pupils are encouraged to become responsible respectful and active citizens and learn that anything is possible regardless of ethnicity Headteacher Helen Tomlinson told the Stray Ferret of her pride: I’m absolutely delighted with our recent Ofsted report which recognises the strong personal development of our pupils respectful relationships that underpin our school community The inspectors also praised the real sense of belonging here – something we value deeply This report is a testament to the dedication of our staff Mr Swainston's will be opening a new shop in the town following the success of their first location in South Shields The exact location of the traditional sweet shop ran by owners John Gray and Sean Robinson It will offer a variety of treats including traditional and retro sweets The pair were first inspired to open up their own sweet shop following a trip to Beamish which lead to the first Mr Swainston's shop launch in May The name pays tribute to the original Swainston's sweet shop in Laygate Swainston's aims to bring a touch of nostalgia back and also stir up memories of your childhood "Those who remember the original shops will now have their own children Swainston's hope that old memories can be ignitied but that new memories can be made too." Find out more about Mr Swainston's online here and keep an eye on their social media channels for more details ahead of the launch.  As part of the "ambitious plans" the council has set up a Market Working Group and appointed a consultant with experience of market operation Potential activities could include educational opportunities for schools and an information point where residents can talk to local support groups.  “Our market has been at the centre of life in Knaresborough for over 700 years and we are determined to secure its future and to encourage new traders to join us.  “The town grew up around the market place It’s where the town can come to life and we want there to be activities alongside the traditional market to involve everyone in the community.” first and foremost we need to support the local economy by looking after our traders and local businesses.” Detailed discussions are underway with officers from North Yorkshire Council about the potential transfer of the market’s management and operation to the Town Council “It’s one step at a time because we are dealing with people’s livelihoods as well as ancient laws; and we also need to act in the best interests of the residents of Knaresborough.” The transfer of the market is part of North Yorkshire Council’s ‘Double Devolution’ strategy to provide opportunities for town and parish council and community groups to manage services and assets.  Any transfer needs to be at no cost to North Yorkshire Council and to be financially viable for the Town Council The final decision on the transfer will be taken by the Executive of North Yorkshire Council when all arrangements and financial considerations are in place The Blue Bell at Arkendale has received the top rating from experts at Cask Marque following an assessment Cask Marque is an accreditation scheme that assesses and awards pubs for serving great quality cask ale "We are thrilled to share that our hard work has paid off "A special shoutout to our General Manager Emily and Hannah for leading us to a 5-star rating in our Cask Marque assessment "This means we serve excellent beer just as it should be with all hygiene levels meeting the highest standards." The Blue Bell in Arkendale re-opened last year under new ownership of Simon Wade after a full revamp Find out more about the Country Inn here Stardust Drama has spent the last two years operating from venues around the Harrogate area but now founder Ami Stott says it will have a permanent base for weekly classes and birthday parties The former secondary school drama teacher set up the business following the pandemic prior to which she ran children’s classes for other organisations.  Her ideas for drama-based classes were years in the making and the move to a new studio at 24a Park Row is the latest step in Stardust’s growth “I have really enjoyed meeting so many children and families in our classes in the community and I can’t wait to welcome them into our permanent home “Having my own studio means we can have more equipment available for our classes and parties from boxes full of props to huge backdrops to suit whatever theme we cover.  “There’s also a separate seating area and kitchen facilities for parents to relax in while their children are having fun.” Stardust has a programme of classes through the week for children aged two and above including sessions for home educated students pre-schoolers and primary school children.  from nature and the environment to fairy tales who trained in drama and arts education at Bretton Hall and was previously head of drama at Heckmondwike Grammar School for seven years uses her skills and experience to make the classes educational as well as fun They are designed to develop children’s communication as well as their understanding of the world Ami also offers one-to-one and small group tuition in preparation for Lamda (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) exams She is proud to say her students have a 100% pass rate at distinction level “Whether children are already drama lovers or they want to give something new a try Stardust is an open and welcoming place for them “It is such a privilege to watch children grow in confidence when they join our classes “I’ve had youngsters come to their first class and not want to take part at all.  after a few weeks they’re joining in the songs shouting the answers to questions and dancing around the room with us “It’s the most rewarding job in the world and I feel very lucky to be able to do it.” Residents were drawn to Conyngham Hall and Riverside last week to catch a glimpse of Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland And producers Future Artists Entertainment have announced they will be returning on Wednesday (5th February) They’ll be taking over the car park at Conyngham Hall until Friday with filming set to take place on Kirkgate until Sunday A spokesperson for Future Artists Entertainment said: “The film is a family Christmas movie for a well-known UK distributor a Hollywood action movie star who unexpectedly finds himself performing in the pantomime in the fictional town of Stanford “We have had such a lovely welcome from the local community over the last week or so and I just wanted to extend my thanks on behalf of the cast and crew and to reassure local residents that we don’t take such lovely hospitality for granted.” The spokesperson said that the disruption caused by filming on Kirkgate is expected to be “minimal.” we will be applying to suspend a number of parking bays on Kirkgate and Finkle Street to park our shoot support vehicles.  “Due to the provision of parking in the area we anticipate that the disruption to local residents will be minimal.” Long Lands Common board members said they were "thrilled" to receive a phone call from a donor offering to pay off the bridging loan for the purchase of Knaresborough Forest Park The donor had participated in one of the recent guided walks of Knaresborough Forest Park during which members of the team explained their aims for the community site The Long Lands Community is made up of three sites: Long Lands Common itself and their next project, the Long Lands Community Food Forest The team have been relentlessly fundraising to pay off the loan since completion of the purchase last August from Julia Davies of We Have The Power, was interest-free until December 31st at which point a number of local benefactors stepped forward to offer loans without charging interest.  supporters of the project have raised funds to repay the loans through share sales Christmas card sales and private donations.  These efforts succeeded in reducing the debt to less than £20,000, and the team were about to embark on a fresh campaign to raise the remaining funds “This is a complete game-changer for us It means that not only can we pay off our remaining benefactors but at the same time we can start actually putting money into the land to make the site safe and start working on it.  "We are hugely grateful to all the donors lenders and investors who have made this project a reality.” The Knaresborough Forest Park site comprises 60 acres of green belt land between Starbeck and Knaresborough, adjoining the A59 and the Beryl Burton cycleway.  The total cost of buying the land came to over £900,000, nearly half of which was financed through a grant from the George A Moore Foundation.The team  Secretary for Long Lands Common, Chris Kitson “One of our missions when we founded the Community Benefit Society was to acquire more land within the green belt.  "This is why we seized the opportunity to take on the Knaresborough Forest Park project two years ago, although we were aware that it was a huge financial challenge "We are thrilled to have paid off the full purchase price within less than a year of completion because of this donation, and the two sites can now move forward to operate in semi-autonomous partnership.” a 30-acre site between the Nidderdale Greenway and Bilton Lane, has gone from strength to strength since the land was bought in 2020.  The founders’ vision of “an accessible-to-all community owned woodland that will help protect and preserve the greenbelt between Harrogate & Knaresborough for future generations enhance the biodiversity of the area and respond positively to the threat of climate change” is becoming a reality through funding from White Rose Forest and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.  The fields, which were former arable land, have already been planted with thousands of trees which are already attracting new wildlife.  Apart from the volunteers who attend weekly and monthly working parties, Long Lands Common also has a team of rangers who monitor the site for security and also record all the flora and fauna they see This has resulted in evidence of increased biodiversity since the community group took over the land The Long Lands Community welcomes supporters who wish to become involved with either of their projects to raise funds for the purchase of Knaresborough Forest Park will be replaced by an ongoing share offer.  The Community Benefit Society is keen to attract new shareholders, to strengthen the number of community owners of the land For further details of volunteering opportunities, future guided walks and ways to support their work, visit https://www.longlandscommon.org/ and https://www.knaresboroughforestpark.org/ will again be fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance Although the full route won’t be released until two days before the event here are some of the best locations to watch the tractors registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and run by volunteers they have raised in excess of £130,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance who as charity require over £19,000 everyday to keep the helicopters operational Regional fundraiser Clare Deacon loves the community coming together for the Knaresborough Tractor Run The children come and watch as well and the farming community get together which is so important "Everybody gets behind them - it really is something to be proud of!” Organisers also stress that this is a charity run and is in no way politically driven; drivers and passengers all pay to be part of the procession and collection buckets will be out along the route, plus you can donate online too Your Harrogate will be out with the tractors and you can follow the day both on-air and online via our website and app Roadworks lasting up to four months are due to get underway in Knaresborough on Monday (April 14) Yorkshire Water has informed Chain Lane Community Hub it will undertake work to improve the water infrastructure The work will start at Chain Lane near our junction and gradually move onto York Road There will be temporary traffic lights during this period and this could last four months There will be a pause of work during the Great Yorkshire Show period to reduce disruption This does mean that traffic will be affected where possible we ask that people do not park on the road outside of our centre Camera crews will take over the town centre street to resume shooting a Christmas film Scenes are set to take place outside Kelly Teggin Hairdressing and around Green Dragon Yard The road will be closed between the junctions of B6163 Gracious Street and the junction with Market Place / Chapel Street which will be in effect on filming days only.  Producers Future Artists Entertainment have set up in the car park at Conyngham Hall with filming already taking place on Riverside.  Filming will take place on Castlegate and Green Dragon Yard tomorrow from 4:30pm until 9pm “We are working closely and sharing information and plans with North Yorkshire Council and in order to safely and efficiently facilitate the filming we will be applying for a small number of parking dispensations on Kirkgate for our design department’s vehicles during prep and reinstatement.” Filming will resume today (Thursday) on Kirkgate from 10am until 4:30pm Yorkshire Water had been carrying out work on the road for the past two weeks Work was needed to fully complete a previous sewer repair which was considered too close to a gas pipe The road has reopened today (Thursday 6th February) as scheduled The annual event sees a convoy of tractors head around the Harrogate area whilst fundraising for charity More than 400 tractors took part last year and £134,000 has been raised for Yorkshire Air Ambulance since the event began in 2012 The convoy will leave Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground at 9am on Sunday (9th March) before heading towards Knaresborough arriving in Pateley Bridge for lunch at around 12pm.  It will then head back towards Bewerley (2pm) arriving back in Knaresborough at approximately 4pm See the route map in full here, plus track it on the day via the Your Harrogate website and app A number of businesses have signed up to sponsor the event Another sponsor is Simon Graeme Auto Service Centre.   Speaking to Your Harrogate ahead of the event If we can get all the villages out for when the tractors start to appear it’ll be brilliant “Fingers crossed it all goes according to plan and I think it’ll be good entertainment for anyone in the area.” The committee behind the annual event are a non-profit organisation Knaresborough Tractor Run Committee Chairman Steven Brown has paid tribute to the event’s sponsors for making it possible.  without the sponsors it wouldn’t happen.  there is cost we incur every year and the sponsors really help to cover them.  “Without them it wouldn’t take place and it wouldn’t be worth putting the run on.” Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional fundraiser Clare Deacon said she loves the community coming together for the Knaresborough Tractor Run.  When leaving from the Great Yorkshire Showground at 9AM on Sunday morning the tractors will be exiting from the "brown car park" and spectators are asked to park in the Fodder overflow car park and please stay in the meeting area away from tractors pulling in organisers have added more interests for anyone gathering to view the tractors This will include a sweet stand kindly supplied by Cotton Clouds Sweets and Treats Skell Gill Farm Meats will be selling lunch for the public plus Yorkshire Dale Ice Cream will be serving up treats too DJ Mark Green will continue with the music and another addition will be a children’s area with a ride on tractor course and a CPR demonstration and workshop prizes will be handed out for the different categories of tractors taking part in the day such as a vintage class and committee's choice Planning to come along and spectate? Read about the best places to view the Tractor Run here Ripon and Wetherby responded to reports of a fire at the Calcutt pub at around 4am Emergency services are still in attendance “Our thoughts are with all those affected and the emergency services who have been responding to the fire “Please allow plenty of time and pick your route when out and about on the roads this morning as the fire may cause disruption.” Anyone affected by the fire and in need of additional support is advised to contact Cllr James Pickard at Knaresborough Town Council by emailing james.pickard@knaresboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk The restaurant took to social media to reveal the news and said it is “heartbroken” Co-owner Vivien Kovacs said the "difficult and emotional" decision comes despite financial investment and is a result of “failing to overcome the challenges of running a restaurant nowadays.” It will officially close on Sunday (12th January) for being such an integral part of our business and for helping us to provide so many wonderful experiences to our countless guests over the years.  “There are no words that clearly express the love we feel for our staff that worked so hard to keep the vision alive.  “It is so rare to find such a committed Two Brothers Grill and Pizzeria first launched in March 2018 when brothers Nandor and Szilard Ravasz opened the business with their wives Vivien Kovacs and Eniko Szenasi we give a huge thanks to everyone who has dined with us whether you've been dining with us for years or just now found us.  “We are grateful for your continued support and loyalty; you are the direct reason for our success.  “You trusted us with your most treasured events: birthday celebrations engagement parties,baby showers and celebrations of life and many other completely routine and sometimes totally extraordinary moments “What an incredible journey it has been.” Knaresborough Tractor Run. Credit: Rachael Fawcett PhotographyThis article is free to read. Help support independent local journalism at the Stray Ferret by subscribing for as little as 14p per day. You can do so here. Hundreds of tractors are set to parade around the Harrogate district this weekend for the Knaresborough Tractor Run The annual event will get underway at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Sunday (March 9) Thousands of spectators are expected to turn out as tractors make their way through towns and villages across the district The parade will stop for a hog roast lunch in Pateley Bridge before winding its way back to Knaresborough told the Stray Ferret that around 350 tractors are expecetd to take part It’s looking like we will be in that region again The route will span 25-miles across the district and those taking part will aim to raise £30,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance The event has raised more than £100,000 for the charity since it was first held over a decade ago Timings for the tractor run are as follows: A full map of the route is expected to be published on Friday (March 7) An online fundraising page has been set up here Tractor drivers pay £20 to enter (£25 on the day) and passengers are charged £10 Last year’s event saw 374 tractors embark on the parade with some drivers travelling as far as Scotland to take part Home / News / Penmoor U K Limited purchases expansive new site for £16 million at Flaxby Penmoor have been in the business of manufacturing bottled water in Shepley Huddersfield for over 20 years and have been looking to expand their business for some time the 275,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Flaxby just off the A1 had been left abandoned and subjected to vandalism and large-scale theft of electrical cables and equipment The site comprises a huge open plan building previously used to manufacture prefabricated homes with associated offices car parking and its own roundabout and spur off the A59 Penmoor took on the challenge of restoring the site and converting it into one of the fastest water extraction and bottling plants in the world Penmoor intends this site to be a ‘one stop shop’ in the manufacture and distribution of bottled water including abstracting the water on site thereby minimizing the environmental impact of importing bottles and components externally Analysis on the site has suggested that Penmoor will be able to extract over a billion litres of high-quality water every year With Penmoor’s plan for complete end-to-end manufacturing they aim to produce over 104,000 bottles of water every hour Penmoor have invested heavily in clearing and rejuvenating the site Penmoor are aiming to commence production during the spring of 2025 The site will feature state-of-the-art machinery engineered specifically for Penmoor allowing them to automate the majority of the process The nature of the deal required an element of commercial sensitivity and speed and the commercial property team at Eaton Smith LLP were happy to oblige Given the scale and nature of the acquisition led by associate solicitor Ian Holdsworth strongly supported by partner James Burgess and associate solicitor Jamie Humpheson Exclusivity was secured for Penmoor UK at an early stage and just over 5 weeks from receipt of the draft documentation the deal was completed “We have been looking to expand our operations for over 5 years but our strict requirement for a high quality water source in a centralised location failed to yield any results When this site became available we had to move quickly and covertly The team at Eaton Smith did a seamless job from start to finish in what turned out to be a very complex purchase but they delivered and I couldn’t be happier with this outcome.” Wake Smith Solicitors’ corporate team has acted on deals with a combined value in excess of £60 million in the.. Harrogate-based Raworths has retained its prestigious Investors in People (IIP) ‘We invest in people’ Gold accreditation Wrigleys Solicitors LLP has made a key senior hire within its charities and social economy team McCormicks Solicitors has appointed a new Trainee Solicitor Suzie Godden joined the Harrogate-based practice’s Crime and Fraud team as a.. Keep up-to-date on the latest legal victories as well as all of the corporate social responsibility work being undertaken on behalf of worthy causes and charities Yorkshire Legal is a platform for solicitors barristers and junior lawyers in the region to discuss debate and educate this highly important professional sector © 2023 Copyright Barker Brooks Communications Ltd That’s according to Knaresborough Town Council who have teased the lights may yet be needed Some residents had questioned why the lights have remained up “well into January” the council said “filming” may be taking place in and around Knaresborough later this month ‘Bright Friday’ takes place in the town on the final Friday of November each year - often referred to by retailers as ‘Black Friday.’ which will be held on Friday 29th November this year sees Knaresborough’s Christmas lights switch-on event and the start of the town's Christmas celebrations The Knaresborough community is invited to come together for a night of music late-night shopping and Christmas refreshments.  The event will start at 5:30pm before a light parade led by the town crier at 6pm setting off from grounds of Knaresborough Castle The Christmas tree will be switched on at 6:30pm A spokesperson for Knaresborough Town Council “The last Friday in November has become better known as ‘Black Friday’ "Bright Friday is Knaresborough’s antidote to this and marks the start of the town’s festive calendar of events positivity and community to reflect the true meaning of Christmas in our town.” Find out more about Bright Friday in Knaresborough here.  Scenes are currently being shot around the town for ‘Tinsel Town’ which is due to be released on Sky later this year It will also star Danny Dyer and Rebel Wilson several local businesses including Kelly Teggin Hairdressing Kelly Young from Knaresborough Chamber said:  “There’s a lot of hype in Knaresborough about it it could really bring people to the town.  “I know when I went to New York I went to all the movie sets "A move set can really attract a lot of people and a lot of tourists.” Producers Future Artists Entertainment have announced they will be returning for more filming on Tuesday (11th February) The film is drawing on experience from local crew It occurred on the A19 at Bagby near Thirsk at around 8:55am PC Rosie Prior was hit by a heavy goods vehicle after she had pulled over to help other motorists - whilst off duty - who had been in an earlier an approaching heavy goods vehicle (HGV) collided with them and the driver of the car from the previous collision 41-year-old Knaresborough man Ryan Welford A teenage boy from the Audi is in a serious but stable condition in hospital has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.  “It is with profound sadness to confirm the death of PC Rosie Prior on Saturday morning who was tragically killed while helping at the scene of a separate collision on the A19 near Bagby “We are doing everything we can to support Rosie’s family along with the family of a man who was also tragically killed in the incident “This is clearly a deeply traumatic and heartbreaking event for everyone involved and we ask that the two families are left alone to grieve in peace They do not want any media outlets to contact or approach them “Rosie’s response team colleagues in York are being supported at this extremely difficult time.” PC Prior joined North Yorkshire Police as a student officer in May 2022 Her family have described PC Prior as “a loving mum Mr Welford’s family have issued the following statement:  “Ryan was a hardworking and loving father “He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.” The scene of the collision reopened at around 7.20pm on Saturday Highways have cleared debris from the road to ensure it is safe to drive on The police’s Major Collision Investigation Team is urging witnesses to either of the two collisions and motorists with relevant dashcam footage If you can help, please email mcit@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting reference number 12250006038