PEOPLE and businesses in Northallerton are being urged to spruce up their premises. Judges for the summer Yorkshire in Bloom competition will be putting the town under the spotlight next Friday. The local council is encouraging people to do their bit to put the town on the road to success. A spokesman said: "In the spring judging we managed second place, and we would love to equal that or do better."

BUS BLISS: Councillors in York are considering spending £500,000 on a Bus Location and Information System, known as Bliss. The technology allows computers in buses to provide "real-time" information to bus stops and other displays and cut down delays by altering traffic signals.

ROAD CLOSURE: Motorists in the Yorkshire Dales are being warned about the temporary closure of a section of the minor road which fronts the Sandpiper pub, in Leyburn. Underground cables need to be repaired and the road will be closed to traffic on Monday and Tuesday.

SWINGING '60S: The sounds of the 1960s will feature in Music by Moonlight at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, next Friday and Saturday. The event will close with a fireworks show. Tickets are £17.50 for the Friday event, which begins at 7.30pm, and £20 for the Saturday, which starts at 6.30pm. Booking is essential. Contact (01909) 511061 for more details.

LOOKING BACK: A group of 20 retired Danish vets took a look back in time when they called at the World of James Herriot centre, in Thirsk. They were in the region as part of a study trip organised by the Danish Society for the History of Veterinary Medicine.

ELECTION DATE: A vacant seat on Whitby Town Council is to be filled on Thursday when voters go to the polls. The byelection in the town ward was called following the death of Councillor Richard Watson. Christine Freestone, Andrew Lowe and Ian Waller are contesting the seat.

HOLIDAY FUN: Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, is playing host to a summer of school holiday fun, from July 20 to September 8, with a free exploration trail and indoor games at the Swanley Grange Activity Base