Bear necessity for Christmas

A PANTO version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears goes on stage at Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal following the successful revival of the festive tradition last year. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs proved a hit last December, encouraging production company Rigoletto to return to the playhouse, which was this week awarded a £660,000 Lottery grant towards restoration. Children from the Richmond Dance Centre play the Bears. Tickets cost £2. Performances start at 2pm and 7pm on Boxing Day and at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm on Thursday, December 27.

HEAD RETIRES: Peter Smith, headteacher of Manor CE School in York for the past 20 years, has retired. Mr Smith, who will be 60 on Christmas Day, has been in teaching for 37 years.

CAROL CLOSURE: St Helen's Square in York and Coney Street between the square and New Street will be closed for two hours from 7pm on Christmas Eve to allow the civic Christmas carol service to go ahead.

DANCING ON: Husband-and-wife Christopher and Christine Lonsdale have quick-stepped their way into the national final of a ballroom dancing competition. The couple, from Woodthorpe, York, will take part in the finals at the Winter Gardens, in Blackpool, in April.

LIGHTS ALERT: Motorists in the Scarborough area are being urged to get their headlights checked. "This is a time of year when more people are travelling greater distances in the dark as they visit friends and relations for Christmas," said road safety officer John Sheader.

Children's party: A Christmas party for children under seven will take place in the chapel schoolroom at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, tomorrow, from 2pm to 3.30pm. It is organised by the village sports association.

Cash no-go: Easingwold town council has declined to meet the printing costs of an Easingwold Directory, a Lions Club project. The authority said a payment of £2,740 could not be justified from the local precept.