THE North Yorkshire moorland village of Rosedale has got its post office back after nearly two years. Publican John Belt, of the Milburn Arms, has stepped in and switched the business to his pub in the heart of the village. "I volunteered because it was going to be lost to the village for good. No one else wanted to take it on." Mr Belt is well qualified to run the post office - he had one together with a newsagents in Middlesbrough. Villagers have had to make 16-mile round trips to Pickering to their nearest post office since the previous one closed in 2000.

MUSEUM BOOST: The award-winning Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole, is in line for a £500,000 revamp. Curator Martin Watts said that the aim was to increase space for volunteers and exhibits. The Manor House on the museum site is to be restored to its original condition of the late 17th Century and exhibition space is to be created. Mr Watts said it was hoped the bulk of the money would come from grants, including the National Lottery.

ROAD CLOSURE: Motorists are being warned about the temporary closure of Romanby Road, Northallerton, from tomorrow until Monday. The closure is to allow for resurfacing of the carriageway.

CASTLE FESTIVAL: Food which would have adorned the tables of medieval Dales folk will be on display at Middleham Castle over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Cooks from Historic Haute Cuisine will be serving up various dishes on May 5 and 6 as part of the Dales Festival of Food and Drink. Events at the castle start at 11am on each day.