Actress, writer and chef Jane Asher will be the guest speaker at a ladies luncheon in aid of St Catherine's Hospice, in Scarborough, on November 12, at the St Nicholas Hotel.

Tickets are £25. For details, call (01723) 378046.

Chapel burglary: St Olave's Church, in Marygate, York, was targeted by thieves who entered the Lady Chapel and broke into a steel box next to the altar. Two black boxes, each holding three containers, and a silver container were taken.

BAKERY ARREST: A suspected burglar was arrested yesterday after being challenged by a man making his deliveries at 5.30am at a bakery in the centre of York.

LESS STRESS: Lessons in meditation have begun at Richmond's Ryder's Court. Chris Helliwell will be leading classes every Monday between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, for a donation of £4. Refreshments will be served at the end of each class. For details, call (01325) 365265.

HOSPICE THANKS: Stockton's Butterwick Children's Hospice has passed on its thanks to everyone who helped with a fundraising event in Catterick. Singer and guitarist Graham Russell played at the Bridge House Hotel, raising £582.

TRADING PLACES: Trading standards officer, Len Swift, will be explaining his role when he meets the Northallerton branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists this evening. The group meets at The Lodge at Leeming Bar at 7.30pm.

ANIMAL HOME: A £180,000 small animal centre is soon to be opened at the RSPCA's animal sanctuary in Landing Lane, York. It will contain a variety of hutches, runs and cages, a pond and an aviary.

STEPPING DOWN: Gardener David Stubbs has retired after 45 years in the job. He has looked after the five-acre gardens at the York Marriott Hotel,in Tadcaster Road, York, since he was 20.