Council staff join roads firm

ABOUT 350 council workers are to transfer to a highway maintenance firm next week. Staff from North Yorkshire County Council's direct labour organisation (DLO) are joining Raynesway Construction Southern (RCS). The move follows the firm's successful bid for the county's highways maintenance contract, worth an estimated £27m a year.

Bosses of the Hampshire-based firm, a division of Balfour Beatty, are due to put pen to paper at a contract signing in County Hall, Northallerton, on Tuesday.

CROSSROADS CRASH: An elderly motorist who died when his car hit another vehicle at crossroads had probably suffered a heart attack, a coroner heard yesterday. William McNeill, 87, a retired civil servant of Scalby Road, Scarborough, was 200m from his home when the crash happened at the junction of Scalby Road, Station Road and High Street, Scalby, deputy North Yorkshire East Coroner John Broadbridge was told. Witnesses said Mr McNeill had made no attempt to stop or slow down as he drove out of Station Road and then crashed into a roadsign.

COFFEE BREAK: A coffee morning with various stalls takes place in Northallerton town hall on Wednesday, from 9am to 1.30pm. Proceeds will go to the Methodist church in Brompton, near Northallerton. Easter services at the church begin on Good Friday at 7pm, led by Carol Young, of Northallerton Salvation Army.

path closes: Pedestrians using Thirsk town centre are being warned about the temporary closure of a section of the footpath which runs alongside 20 Market Place, from Monday to Thursday, due to building works.

FLAG DAY: The Northallerton branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute holds its annual flag day in the town on Wednesday, from 9am to 3pm.

Evening class: A five-week course on the geological history of the North York Moors starts on Wednesday, April 17, at Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough, from 6.30pm until 8.30pm. For a course information sheet and details, contact the college on (01287) 280800