POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an attempted robbery which took place at about 3.30am on Sunday, in Northallerton.

A 21-year-old woman, wearing a long denim coat, was attacked near the railway bridge in Mill Lane by a white man with a crew cut hairstyle who tried to steal her bag. He punched her and knocked her to the ground. Police would like anyone who was in the Mill Lane area in the early hours to contact Northallerton CID on (01609) 789452

SIGNING ON: The Reverend Denis Huntley, chaplain for deaf people in the Ripon and Leeds Diocese will be leading sign language worship at the Deaf Church in Harrogate and taking home communion services in sign language for deaf worshippers in Ripon. He has appealed to people who need sign language to call (0113) 2443606.

POLICE MEETING: North Yorkshire Police Authority, is holding its next meeting in Harrogate Borough Council chamber on Monday at 10.30am. The meeting is open to the public and as part of a new initiative they can

quiz police chiefs during a half-hour public question session.

OPEN ARK: Anglicans and Methodists from St Peter's Church and Wesley Chapel are taking to the streets of Harrogate to present an open-air production of Noah's Ark as part of its mission weekend on October 26 and 27. Youngsters will be dressed in animal costumes and an animal service is being held as part of the project.

NOT RECOMMENDED: North Yorkshire County Council planners say a scheme to pull down a nursing home at Thistle Hill, Knaresborough, should not go ahead. The scheme involves building a new nursing home and the conversion of existing buildings. Planners say it would conflict with greenbelt policies.

LESS WASTE: Planners have given the go-ahead for a waste recycling site at Milby Cut, Boroughbridge. But North Yorkshire County Council has requested details of noise and dust control schemes for the site