A level results are being handed out to students across the Harrogate district today.

It is the first time since 2019 that students have had an undisrupted exam period following a relatively normal academic year, thanks to the covid pandemic.

Nationally, the number of students achieving top grades has fallen, but the number of university admissions in the second highest on record.

The Stray Ferret will be sharing all the local schools’ results and stories as we get them today. Keep following our live blog for the latest news.

To submit your school’s news, email us with details and photographs by clicking here.

4.48pm ‘Remarkable’ year group complete A levels at Rossett School

Careers in medicine, law, architecture, physiotherapy and animation beckon as students at Rossett School in Harrogate receive their A level results.

The sixth formers were in school to collect their results today, after more than two years of disrupted schooling thanks to the covid pandemic.

Headteacher Helen Woodcock said:

“The resilience that our students have shown throughout the last two years since the cancellation of their GCSEs has been remarkable.

“They are all exceptional, inspiring, and talented young people and we could not be more proud of them.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to pupils, staff, and parents for what was an exemplary team effort over the two years of preparation for these outcomes – preparation that included learning remotely and, in many cases, overcoming challenging personal circumstances.”

The school has not published its overall grade percentages, but has highlighted the achievements of some students.

They include Lewis Ferry, pictured right, who will study maths at Durham University after achieving three A*s and an A, and Dan Jenking, left, who scored an A* and three As and will study medicine at the University of Manchester.

Zoe Hopkins, pictured centre, will study PE at Leeds Beckett University after being awarded two distinction* grades and a distinction.

3.48pm More celebrations as university beckons for A level students 

Pupils at Harrogate Ladies’ College have been celebrating together after receiving their A level results.

From medicine to graphic design, they’ll now go on to the degrees of their choice.

Jessica Jones

Chloe Foster

3.25pm Strong performance in STEM subjects at Harrogate Ladies’ College

Almost a quarter of A level grades at Harrogate Ladies’ College were A*s in today’s results.

As well as 22% of results being the top grade, 42% were A or above, and 69% were A*-B – and all further maths grades were A*.

Principal Sylvia Brett said the grades reflected the school’s efforts to ensure its pupils were able to follow the subjects they wanted.

She added:

“These are a fantastic set of results and a reflection of all the effort the girls, supported by our incredible staff, have put in.

“I’m particularly proud of our success in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), and that as an all-girls school we are leading the way in encouraging girls into careers in science and engineering.

“The most important thing for me though is that pupils are free to follow their own passions and aren’t restricted by their gender.

“We have girls going on to study an incredibly diverse range of subjects including politics, law and comic design. Our head of choir has also been accepted into the Royal Marines Conservatoire.

“This has been a long journey for these pupils who sat their exams in the aftermath of covid and all the challenges that surrounded that period, and today’s results are testament to their resilience and determination. They are incredible young people.”

Among the top achievers were Chloe Foster, who received three A*s and an A and will now study medicine at St Andrew’s. Jessica Jones, who also scored three A*s and will study medicine at Newcastle University, said:

“I am so pleased and I want to thank everyone who has given me so much support and made me believe I could do this. At times, we all faced a challenge with the rules around Covid but our teachers could not have done more to help us.”

Student Lauren Stott achieved two A*s, an A and a B to secure her place studying maths at the University of Nottingham. Ophelia Leyshon will go to the University of Bristol to study physics after gaining three A*s and an A, and said:

“The science and maths departments were fantastic and offered me so much help and encouragement, and I can’t wait to go onto study physics.”

Meanwhile, the head of the school’s chapel choir, Natasha Stevenson, who was awarded a music scholarship, has secured her place int he Royal Marines Conservatoire.

Students Anona Raphael and Laila Urquhart will study business management at the University of Liverpool and psychology at Lancaster University respectively.

2.51pm Celebrations after ‘year of unknowns’ at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher

Students at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form have been celebrating collecting their A level results today.

The sixth form’s leaders have praised the ‘remarkable’ way the students performed in their first formal exams, with their university places and other career plans on the line.

St Aidan’s director of sixth form Chris Kidman said:

“There can be no denying that this year was full of unknowns for our students.

“Not only is it the first set of results based on examination performance since the pandemic, but these students also didn’t get the opportunity to sit their GCSEs in the typical way two years ago. This was their first full and formal exam experience.

“Despite all of that, our students have performed remarkably. Their collective results stand shoulder-to-shoulder with outcomes achieved last year – despite a national picture that has seen results drop slightly.”

The associated sixth form has not yet released statistics for its results.

Jon Sharpe, St John Fisher’s director of sixth form, said there was a ‘buzz’ as students collected their results this morning:

“What is most exciting is where these results will take our students. This was our first results day in person since 2019, and I think it would be fair to say that we all loved listening to the buzz of excitement as students talked about their next steps.

“It is amazing to hear that so many will be heading off to the leading universities to study some incredible subjects.

“What we shouldn’t forget, however, is that every student has a story. They have worked tirelessly over the last couple of very difficult years and they deserve their success.

“They have achieved outstanding academic results, but they are impressive young people who we know will make a positive impact on the world.

“It would also be wrong not to acknowledge not just our dedicated staff but also parents, carers and wider family. This has been a real team effort.”

2.41pm Young Ripon carer set for medical degree

A young carer has her sights set on a medical career after receiving her A level results this morning.

Febe Elsayghe was inspired to apply to study medicine after helping to care for her sister Monica, who is autistic and has a learning disability.

The 18-year-old today found out she had gained three A*s in maths, chemistry and biology to secure her place at Newcastle University. She said caring for 23-year-old Monica had been particularly challenging over the last two years:

“It was definitely harder during lockdown as we were all inside and trying to balance that with online school was a hard task.

“Monica was taken out of her normal routine and wasn’t able to understand the unusual situation. It was difficult to deal with, but we all came together as a family to help.”

Monica has difficulty communicating and needs help with everything from dressing to feeding. as well as Febe, she relies on their 20-year-old sister Jessica and parents Reham and Joseph for support.

Febe praised the support she has had from Ripon Grammar School to help her through time in sixth form, achieving top grades while carrying out a part-time admin job in an estate agency and enjoying dancing in her spare time.

She added:

“When I was young, I was curious about my sister’s condition and would ask her care team questions as well as doing my own research. That’s when I began to get interested in a career in medicine.

“I found the genetics and intricacy of the human body really interesting, and I knew I wanted to help people.”

2.08pm In pictures: Delighted students collect results

Students have been calling in to collect results from Harrogate Grammar School, now knowing what their next steps will be.

Here is a selection from today’s A level results day at the school.

Elisia Spears and Betsy Martin

Head students Elena Blair and Ollie Martin

Oliwia Gorczynska celebrates her results

Gab Mosso Zolezzi

Alice Tolhurst and Perla Rhodes

1.58pm Harrogate Grammar School says results are ‘where we anticipated’

A level grades at Harrogate Grammar School have met expectations as many students sat formal exams for the first time.

Exam boards set grade boundaries to between the 2019 and 2021 levels, following two years of grades being marked in unusual ways, including by teacher assessment.

The school said it was “pleased that the results for our school are where we anticipated they would be between these years”.

Across 286 students in the sixth form, 32% of grades were A*-A and 59% A*-B. With 92 per cent of students applying to university, more students achieved their first choice place than before the pandemic.

Headteacher Neil Renton said:

“Our students started sixth form during one of the most challenging times with many restrictions in place due to the pandemic.

“When rates of covid were high, we had to close the year group. Students had to adapt to new online environments, learning remotely from home in the second lockdown.

“They faced covid tests and vaccinations in school, along with having to adapt to changing rules about wearing face coverings. In all of this, our students showed determination, patience, and positivity to complete their studies.”

1.13pm Students across county praised for ‘resilience’ 

Education authority North Yorkshire County Council has commended the area’s students for the way they have taken on unprecedented challenges in the run-up to today’s A level results.

This year’s A level students were due to take their GCSE exams in summer 2020 before the covid pandemic hit, cancelling exams and leaving a great deal of uncertainty for them all.

Since then, they have had their two-year A level courses interrupted by lockdowns and some of their lessons delivered online.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, NYCC’s executive member for education and skills, said:

“I would like to offer my congratulations to all young people in North Yorkshire who are receiving their A-level, BTEC and T-level results today.

“Our young people have work tirelessly for two years under challenging circumstances; their hard work and determination has been inspirational and they should be very proud of themselves. Well deserved credit also to their families and teachers for supporting them.

“I wish everyone the very best for their next steps and longer term futures.”

Stuart Carlton, director of children and young people’s services, said:

“Our students have shown great resilience in the face of significant challenge and deserve credit and every success as they move to the next stage of their education, employment or training.

“If you did not get the results you wanted, there are still plenty of options. Talk to your family and school about your next steps and explore the opportunities available through clearing.”

The county council’s assistant director for education and skills, Amanda Newbold, added:

“We recognise that for many young people this year has been their first experience of public examinations and so I would also like to thank our schools and colleges for their exceptional work and for the care and support they have offered to this cohort of students during a very challenging time for young people.”

12.23pm Best ever results at Harrogate’s Ashville College

Ashville College in Harrogate is celebrating its best ever set of A level results, again bucking the national trend.

With a 100% pass rate for the school overall, 23% of students achieved all A*s and 52% got all A*s and As. Meanwhile, 78% got all A*-B, while 94% got all Cs or above.

Ashville head Rhiannon Wilkinson said:

“We are delighted with our outstanding upper sixth results which are the best ever A level examination results at Ashville College: 52% of our grades are at A* or A in a year when the A* to A rate is lower nationally after the grade inflation of the last few years.

“I am extremely proud of our pupils whose results reflect their hard work and commitment. They are the first cohort never to have taken GCSE examinations and they have missed substantial periods of schooling whilst getting to grips with online learning.

“I am enormously grateful to every member of staff for their dedication and encouragement. I know our pupils will join me in thanking their teachers and, of course, their parents.”

Among the high achievers were Reuben Aston, pictured left,  who secured his place to study theology at Cambridge University, and Amy Brown, pictured right, whose two A*s, one A and one B will take her to Liverpool University to study psychology.

Meanwhile, life-long friends George Jackson and Dom Callister, pictured below, each got three A*s.  Their mothers met at maternity classes when their babies were just two weeks old and they have been at Ashville together since year 7.

Dom will now study aeronautical engineering at Sheffield while George heads to Edinburgh to study history.

Ashville student Rosa Dobson has more reason than most to celebrate her two A*s and an A.

Having missed much of the last three years of school due to illness, she has secured her place at Imperial College London to study biology. She said:

“I’m feeling really good about my results. It was a tough three years as I’ve been ill for most of it. I missed the entire lower sixth year, was in and out of upper sixth, and missed a lot of my mocks.”

Destinations this year’s leavers will be heading to include a range of Russell Group universities, such as Cambridge, Warwick, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Imperial College London.

11.18am Photos: delighted students collecting results in Ripon

Here are a few photographs as students pick up their results at Ripon Grammar School this morning.

11.02am Ripon Grammar School results

The number of top grades achieved by Ripon Grammar School students has risen today, against the national trend.

More than 83% of all grades were a A*-B, and 61% were A* and A, while not a single grade awarded fell below E.

In total, 153 A*s were handed out and 19 of the 157 students achieved A*s in all of their subjects.

Among the top performers were Eleanor Chaplin with four A*s plus an A* in her extended project qualification (EPQ) and Ellen McKeag who got four A*s.

Headmaster Jonathan Webb said:

“This is a testament to their resilience and hard work after several years of disrupted education.

“I am incredibly pleased that so many have secured their first choice university destination. Despite the fact grading has been recalibrated to a mid-point between 2019-21, results at RGS have actually improved on last year’s record.”

Mr Webb said the results showed the integrity of the school’s grading when it was carried out by teachers during the pandemic, as well as reflecting the strength of online learning during lockdowns.

The school said the majority of students will now go on to Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, where they will study a wide range of subjects including medicine, law, veterinary science, politics, psychology, engineering and modern languages.

High grades allowed the majority of students to secure places at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, to study a diverse range of subjects including veterinary science, medicine, law, politics, psychology, engineering and modern languages.

10.42am Teachers’ union says comparisons with previous years ‘inaccurate’

A union has urged people to resist comparing today’s A level results with any previous year.

The NASUWT said after years of disruption, it would be unfair to draw any conclusions about this year’s cohort of students.

It comes as the number of top grades has fallen across the country.

General secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:

“Congratulations must go to pupils and their teachers who have worked so hard in uniquely challenging circumstances to secure today’s results.

“These grades are a reflection of the circumstances in which exams were held and it would be wrong and wholly inaccurate to compare these results to previous years or make comparisons about performance in relation to previous pupil cohorts.

“It will be essential for higher and further education providers and employers to recognise the challenges pupils have faced this year and to act sensitively when considering their place offers or offers of employment to young people.”

Dr Roach praised teachers for ‘pulling out all the stops’ to get students the results they deserved as A level results are published today.

He also called for more money to help education recover from the impact of the pandemic.

“Young people due to sit qualifications next year have also faced substantial and relatively recent disruption to their learning that can and should be addressed in qualifications arrangements and in forms of wider support. This needs to include greater investment in education recovery.

“Government plans and funding for education recovery fall far below that seen in other comparable countries.

“The results achieved today were secured largely in spite of, rather than because of, the support received from Government for education recovery programmes.

“Teachers have pulled out all the stops for their pupils and after a decade of real terms pay erosion, deserve for their hard work to be matched with a restorative above-inflation pay award.”

10.30am Student’s tribute to late aunt after A level success

A grieving student has paid tribute to his late aunt as he collected top A-level grades, saying she inspired him in his work.

Bertie Wood has achieved A*s in maths and chemistry, an A in economics and an A* in his extended project qualification, despite the death of his aunt Jay Blundell as he studied for the exams.

The Ripon Grammar School student was mentored by Ms Blundell, who was a chemistry teacher and headteacher in Wokingham, and suffered from sporadic Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD). She died aged 55 just weeks after being diagnosed.

Bertie, who lives in Brafferton, said:

“She was a fantastic teacher and had a real passion for her subject and learning in general.

“My mum had to be with her for the final two weeks of her life and her death affected the whole family. It would be good if we could raise awareness about such a rare and horrible brain disease.

“She was always more than willing to help me with any problems, and I was very lucky to have her. I hope I can make her proud with my results.”

Bertie now plans to study law at the Universty of Leeds. he also hopes to join sports teams and try new hobbies, having already played badminton for Yorkshire.

He added:

“I would like to thank the amazing teachers and the school for their tireless work to help me achieve my results and guide me through such an important time of my life.

A Harrogate petanque player has won a prestigious national competition as part of a team from Yorkshire.

Charles Stewart was one of three players who travelled to Leicester for the Petanque England National Veterans Triples competition.

Along with Alan Swift from Wetherby and Richard Burrow from Leeds, he took part in the league stages of the contest before going on to the knock-out rounds.

“Our main aim was to qualify for the main knock-out, getting through to the last eight. We achieved that last year but got knocked out in the quarter final.

“This time we went and played the quarter final, then the semi, and got through to the final where we played three ex-international players. I imagine we were probably the solid underdogs on paper, playing the pedigree of the people we were up against!

“It was one of those great occasions where things go your way. We were 11-1 or 12-1 up and said to each other, ‘it’s not over yet’. They had a little flurry of activity but we managed to nip it in the bud and the final score was 13-5.

“It was certainly worth the trip to Leicester!”

The team of three, who play under the name Le Dragon, are now set to represent Yorkshire in Lowestoft at an inter-regional contest in September. Yorkshire has just been promoted back into the first division so the trio know they will face strong competition across the two-day event.

Despite the high level they play at, Mr Stewart said the events retain the friendly, sociable feel of local, informal games, which is one of the attractions for participants.

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Mr Stewart, who was a founding member of Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club and is now president of Yorkshire Petanque, said interest in the sport across the Harrogate district has never been higher.

A new terrain has been built in Darley, while the Harrogate club has created a new headquarters with 10 courts in the grounds of Pannal Ash Junior Football Club next to Oatlands Junior School.

Meanwhile, local club members often travel to play in Ilkley, Wetherby, Horsforth and Leeds.

Mr Stewart said:

“Terrains are popping up everywhere, usually on a smaller scale because it’s often an enthusiastic group of individuals who get the ball rolling.

“In lockdown, when it was permitted to play socially distanced sport outside, it was perfect. Every club I’m aware of grew during the last two years.

“We’re trying our best to motivate and get these small clubs enthused. When you are playing in a highly visible site, like the pierhead in central Harrogate, it attracts people to stop and watch. It goes from six or eight people involved to now around 50 members in Harrogate.

“A lot of clubs suffer from being hidden away behind a hedge or a fence. The more people see it’s a game for all ages and there’s no restriction on who can play, the better.”

Harrogate club chairman Nigel Clay added:

“We are delighted for Charles and his success at becoming a national champion. As the regional chairman, Charles is also working very hard to help develop the sport across Yorkshire, and with increasing interest across the county.”

A choir from Harrogate has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time, just three years after it was formed.

Sixty members of The Stray Notes travelled to the famous festival to give two performances in historic venues.

They performed in the early afternoon on Sunday at St Giles’s Cathedral on the Royal Mile, before moving on to Canongate Kirk later on.

Choir director Liz Linfoot said:

“It was really fabulous. We were excited, but we didn’t know what to expect.

“The two venues were beautiful. St Giles’s was a really big audience and they were so positive – we got some lovely feedback.

“Then Canongate Kirk was a bit smaller and felt very different, but again the acoustics were beautiful.”

The choir performed a wide variety of music, from a Bon Jovi medley to gospel and choral songs. They finished the concerts with Hey Jude, which got the audiences joining in, and One Day More from Les Miserables.

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The performances were the most prestigious yet for the choir, which formed in September 2019 but was unable to give concerts during the covid pandemic.

Since then, members have been able to travel to perform in Manchester and Liverpool, and are looking forward to getting on the road more in the future. Liz said:

“The choir just love going to difference places together – it’s a really sociable group.

“The idea of the Fringe was a suggestion from a choir member. We try to give them the opportunity to make suggestions so everyone feels like it’s their choir.

“We went up early so we had time for a meal out together and even a silent disco! Some people saw some shows and others just wandered around the city.”

The Stray Notes will be performing in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Sunday, September 4 from 2pm, before its autumn term begins that week.

Liz said it welcomes new members and it particularly keen to hear from anyone with a lower voice. It is offering the first term’s membership free to tenor and bass singers.

Members do not need to be able to read music and previous experience in a choir is not necessary. if two singers join from the same household, the second gets their membership half price.

Searches are continuing for missing man Jesus Moreno who disappeared more than two weeks ago after catching a bus bound for Harrogate.

The brewer was spotted on CCTV catching a 36 bus from Leeds bus station at 6.10am on Monday, August 1.

He got off the bus at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge on the A61, at 6.39am. He was then seen on CCTV near the bridge at 8.14am.

Images released by West Yorkshire Police of missing man Jesus Moreno

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police today said there have been no further sightings of him since then and officers are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who may have seen him.

The 41-year-old’s family, friends and colleagues at Piglove Brewing Co have continued to post on social media to try to trace him. Posters have also appeared around Harrogate asking people to check their CCTV and dashcam footage from the Harewood area on Monday, August 1.

In a video posted to the company’s social media accounts, they said:

“We need to ask you now not just to think if you’ve seen him, but we need you to look at your CCTV throughout the week from Monday, August 1 all the way up to today.

“If you live anywhere near the Harewood bridge, anywhere near the A61, Netherby, Weeton, East Keswick, these types of places, we’re calling out for people now.

“We’ve got to get our brother home safe.”

Last Monday, a week after his disappearance, police said they were concerned for Jesus’s welfare and were going to begin searching the areas near where he was last seen.

Anyone with information can call West Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference 13220422334.

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A Knaresborough business owner said she has been overwhelmed by the response to a video she posted about how quiet her shop has been this summer.

Laura Dudley, who runs Painting Pots, put up the video of her miming to Celine Dion’s All By Myself on social media last week.

While it showed her singing the lyrics in a light-hearted way, there was a serious message behind it: the shop was extremely quiet.

Laura told the Stray Ferret:

“What has hit us and probably a lot of businesses is that last summer we were spoilt. No-one could go away outside the UK, and Knaresborough is a tourist hot-spot, so we were busy.

“After last summer, we thought we would be busy this year, but everyone has gone on holiday and the sun has been out so families are finding lovely things to do outside.

“It’s such a stark contrast to last summer.”

Laura said her business is always seasonal, with peaks around events including Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day. Yet even taking this into account, it has been so quiet recently that there have been weeks when she has been unable to pay herself a wage.

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The response to the video, however, has seen trade pick up significantly in just a few days.

As well as people coming into the shop last week, Laura said many others were booking for further ahead, even up to October and November.

It gave her some reassurance after several weeks of only having last-minute bookings. She said:

“I think it was just a case of reminding people. They sometimes think we’re always up to something and we will be busy, but it’s not the case at the moment.

“It was nice to tell people I’m here and we’re headed towards an unknown time.

“I’ve had so many lovely messages, some of them from people that don’t even live nearby. It’s a nice reminder as to why I do what I do.”

As well as support from customers, Laura said she has been given some tips on how to increase footfall over the coming weeks and months.

From speaking to local B&B owners about inviting their visitors to the shop, to increasing her social media posting, Laura said she is now making plans for the rest of the summer and autumn to try to keep the business busy.

Laura’s elf outfit attracted some attention during the heatwave

Along with employee Sian and two part-time shop assistants, Laura said she is not afraid to do something “silly” to get attention – such as dressing in Christmas outfits during a heatwave in order to promote the shop’s festive offers.

She said customers are still able to take advantage of early bird discounts and spread the cost of Christmas presents by shopping early.

With the cost of living crisis set to worsen over the coming months, she has vowed to keep her prices low for as long as possible – and said Knaresborough is a great place to be during difficult times.

She added:

“We’re pulling together as a community and supporting our independent businesses.”

A new branch of the Women’s Institute could be set up in West Tanfield if a meeting in the village pub proves popular.

The WI previously had a branch in the village which closed down – but a meeting is being held later this month to discuss setting up a new one.

Margaret Merrall, a WI advisor who helps communities to set up and run WIs, said the suggestion came from local women.

“Two ladies approached us about setting up a WI in West Tanfield. They had been in another WI locally but one of them lives in West Tanfield and thought there might be interest in a WI in the village.

“When we met a fortnight ago, they already had about 10 people interested before we had even announced the meeting.

“Now we’ve set a date, we’re hopeful of getting a good number of people there and having some volunteers for the committee to get things started.”

The initial meeting takes place at the Bruce Arms on Wednesday, August 24 at 7pm.

If there is enough support, a new WI will be formed and its members will choose when and where they meet each month, as well as what they do at the meetings.

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While the stereotypical image of WI meetings is of talks in dusty village halls, in reality many groups prefer a more active approach. Belly dancing, gin tasting and bushcraft skills have all been on the agenda for WIs in the Harrogate district in recent years.

When a new Wi is established, it becomes part of the national organisation, as well as a region – in this case, North Yorkshire West Federation of WIs. The federation will support it by paying for the costs of its first three meetings, before members’ fees – just £44 per person for a full year – are used to pay for hall hire, speakers and other expenses.

Margaret added:

“I tend to stay quite close to a new WI for about a year. I’ll pop to a couple of committee meetings and make sure everything is going well.

“It has been a hard couple of years with covid in every walk of life. We’re pleased to be opening a new WI – our first since the pandemic – and we hope it’s something the community will really enjoy.”

The owner of a new home in Birstwith said he has been left without a wheelie bin for household waste for weeks after moving in.

Sid Evans moved into the West House Gardens development at the beginning of July and discovered there was no wheelie bin with the new home.

He contacted Harrogate Borough Council, but said he was told it would not be possible to deliver a bin for another 12 weeks, in early November.

Mr Evans said:

“That means we aren’t going to have a wheelie bin for over four months.

“According to what I’ve read online, if I reported it damaged or stolen, I would get a new wheelie bin sent out.”

A spokesperson for the council said:

“We would never knowingly leave a new property without a bin. If the resident – and any others that the developer has failed to supply a bin to – gets in touch with our customer services team we will arrange for delivery in the next couple of weeks. Until this time, black bags can be presented for collection.”

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The council said the situation was caused by the developer, Newby, failing to place an order in time:

“It is the developers’ responsibility to arrange and pay for delivery of containers for household waste through the planning phase. We ask developers for a 12-week notice period to allow for production and delivery from the manufacturers, and this should be undertaken in advance of properties being occupied.”

Newby declined to comment on the situation, but the Stray Ferret has seen an email chain which shows bins and recycling boxes and bags for five of the 33 homes were ordered in February.

All of the recycling boxes and bags were delivered, along with two bins, but three bins did not arrive. When Newby chased the remaining bins in July, it was told by the council’s parks and environmental services department that the original order had not been processed and an invoice had never been raised.

The council employee said a new ordering system had been introduced that month and a new order would have to be placed, with a 12-week wait.

Having lived in the Harrogate district for 40 years, Mr Evans said he was frustrated by the situation.

“Whether it’s the builder’s fault or the council’s, I’m not the slightest bit interested.

“I pay council tax and I don’t want to have weeks of waiting for a wheelie bin.”

Watering of public flower displays in the Harrogate district could be reduced over the coming weeks after the announcement of a hosepipe ban later this month.

Harrogate Borough Council said it will be working to reduce its water use in line with Yorkshire Water’s decision, which comes into force on Friday, August 26.

However, the authority said its three public paddling pools will remain open in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, Knaresborough’s Bebra Gardens, and Borrage Green in Ripon.

A spokesperson said:

“Following the Yorkshire Water announcement about the hosepipe ban, we are looking at what measures we can and should implement to conserve water supplies.

“Unfortunately, this may result in our baskets and floral displays looking a bit the worse for wear but we hope people will understand the reasons why.

“Our paddling pools are currently filled until after the August bank holiday, and we welcome residents and visitors using ours across the Harrogate district rather than their own.”

Harrogate’s famous floral displays could go un-watered.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council said it would be following the rules when the hosepipe ban comes into force.

Council leader Carl Les, whose portfolio includes emergency planning, said:

“We are looking at our services and where exemptions may apply, and we will be conforming with the rules. We would urge all residents to follow the advice already given out nationally and regionally on how they can conserve water usage, as we will be.

“Let’s also take care in these tinder dry conditions to avoid starting fires, which not only use large amounts of water to extinguish, but can also threaten property and in some cases lives.”

Read more:

• Hosepipe ban introduced for Harrogate district
• Temperatures to soar to 30 degrees – but no weather warning for Harrogate district

The hosepipe ban is the first to be introduced in Yorkshire since 1995.

People are asked not to use hosepipes for domestic activities including watering plants or grass, washing cars, filling paddling pools or swimming pools, or cleaning outdoor surfaces.

The activities are still permitted if they are carried out without a hosepipe, such as with a bucket or watering can, or if a water butt is used, for example.

Blue Badge holders, people on Yorkshire Water priority services register and those on the WaterSure tariff for medical reasons are exempt from the ban.

The restrictions do not apply to commercial premises using a hosepipe for essential activities.

Police have issued an appeal for a witness to a serious collision in Harrogate this afternoon to come forward.

Cold Bath Road closed following an incident at the junction with West Cliffe Grove.

The air ambulance landed on West Park Stray following the crash, involving a car and a bicycle at 1.41pm.

North Yorkshire Police tweeted:

Update: we're looking to trace a witness, the driver of a small, dark-coloured hatchback car travelling up the hill on Cold Bath Road when the collision occurred.

We believe they stopped at the scene but left prior to our attendance.

They're asked to please call us on 101 ASAP. https://t.co/9CUIDaW8nw

— North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) August 12, 2022

The road closed from Queen’s Road to Valley Drive, with traffic being diverted away from the scene in both directions.

North Yorkshire Police has asked motorists to avoid the area.

Ripley Show will make its return this weekend after a three-year break – and organisers say enthusiasm has never been higher.

With a sunny forecast and plenty of advance tickets already sold, the show field at Ripley is set to be packed with visitors on Sunday.

Having last been held in 2019 before the covid pandemic, the show is returning in its familiar format, with livestock and equestrian classes, a companion dog show, and horticulture and craft competitions.

The main ring will feature displays of heavy horses, a hound parade and an “anti-gravity” show from Savage Skills.

Show secretary Tammy Smith said:

“The preparations are going well. We’re all a little bit rusty after three years off and trying to remember what we all should be doing, but everybody’s pitching in and turning up.

“It’s amazing, all the volunteers are incredible – they just arrive and get on with sorting everything out.

“It’s great to be getting back to it.”

Ms Smith said while some of the volunteers had moved on since the last show, there had been a number of new people offering to help and Knaresborough Young Farmers was also bringing its members to keep things running smoothly.

Read more:

• Ripley parking fine reignites free parking debate
• Birstwith and Weeton shows attract weekend crowds

With the forecast looking sunny and hot, with highs of 30C, Ms Smith said the organisers will be keeping an eye on conditions to ensure animals, exhibitors and visitors were kept safe and well.

Tickets for the show are available in advance on the website, which organisers said will speed up entry on the day.

Some tickets will still be available on the gate at £15 for adults and £6 for children aged between five and 16. Family tickets are available and Ripley Show also offers membership, with benefits including preferential car parking.