TWO communities near Whitby are celebrating after being awarded grants by the National Lottery for village hall schemes.

The Robinson Institute, at Glaisdale, has been given £232,307 towards a refurbishment scheme, while residents at Hinderwell have received £123,000 towards building a £500,000 community and sports hall. The Robinson Institute was built 90 years ago in the Esk Valley village and was bequeathed to the village to mark the coronation of King George V. Work planned includes a heating system, building an extension, facilities for the disabled, re-roofing and a new kitchen. Hinderwell's complex has already been awarded £345,000 by Sport England, local authority sources and national agency funding. In addition, residents of both villages have raised thousands of pounds.

NEW HOME: Plans to convert an apple store into a detached house with double garage at Baldersby, near Ripon, have been approved. Councillors backed the scheme, by AE Jones and Son, after Harrogate Borough Council planning officials said the development would not be detrimental to the original character of the building.

ANTIQUES FAIR: An antique and collectors fair will be held at Ravensworth Village Hall, on Sunday, October 19, from 10am to 4pm. Home-made refreshments will be available.

HARVEST CELEBRATION: Melsonby Methodist Church's harvest festival takes place at 10.30am on Sunday, October 5. A harvest supper is planned for 7.30pm.

DROP-IN SESSION: Specialist nurses at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, are holding their monthly drop-in session for patients with cancer and their carers in the conference room on Wednesday, October 8, from 10am to noon.

CHURCH GRANTS: The Social Care Fund of the Church of England's York diocese has made a grant of £300 to furnish a quiet area at Romanby Pre-School, Northallerton, and a grant of £750 towards the cost of a kitchen for Glaisdale Parish Luncheon Club.

MONGOLIA TALK: Students and team leaders who took part in an international expedition to Mongolia last summer are giving a presentation about their experiences at Northallerton College on Wednesday, from 7pm to 9pm.