A Puffin signal-controlled pedestrian crossing is to be installed on the A167 Boroughbridge Road, Northallerton, close to the junctions with Harewood Lane and Helmsley Way.

Work is due to start on Monday and is expected to last for four weeks. It will also include tactile paving in the footways, carriageway resurfacing and drainage improvements. Some Sunday road closures are expected and diversionary routes will be signed.

GARDEN TIPS: Brompton-on-Swale Women's Institute is hosting an evening with a gardening theme in the church hall next Thursday, from 7.30pm, with the help of Blossoms and Blooms garden centre. Plants and flowers will be on sale. Admission will be £2, including wine and savouries.

STROKE CLUB: The annual meeting of Northallerton Stroke Club will be on Friday, February 14, at the Mencap Centre. The meeting starts at 2pm. The club is hoping to find someone to organise club activities. For details, call (01609) 770317.

BUDGET DEBATE: Senior councillors want to hear the public's views about North Yorkshire County Council's spending plans for 2003-2004. They will be available to discuss the budget during a drop-in session at Harrogate Library next Thursday, between 11am and 2pm. There will also be a meeting of the Harrogate county area committee in Ripon Leisure Centre at 6pm.

DRAMA AUDITIONS: To celebrate its 50th anniversary Bedale Dramatic Society will be holding auditions this month for its spring production, to be staged in April. The society is looking for new members and anyone interested in helping with the production. The audition will take place in Aiskew Methodist School Room, on Tuesday, at 7.30pm. For details, call Jill Simpson on (01609) 775875.

RAIL FILMS: The next meeting of the Northallerton branch of the Wensleydale Railway Association will be on Monday, March 10, when Ken Clough will show archive films.