A Harrogate blogger who was blackmailed by scammers is relieved today after managing to get back into her Instagram account.

Lucy Playford has run the Harrogate Mama blog and social media channels for six years and provides updates on family life in the town and visits to local businesses.

But Turkey-based scammers tricked their way into her Instagram account, which has 6,000 followers, and demanded money to hand it back. She feared the account was lost forever.

However, there has been a twist in the tale — a day after a Stray Ferret article highlighted the blogger’s plight, she has managed to get back into her account.

Ms Playford described yesterday how it happened:

“The hackers posted on my account tonight at a little after 9pm, thankfully due to your reporting and so many people knowing I’d been hacked lots of people contacted me to let me know the hackers were posting.

“This quick alerting led me being able to see the hackers had changed the name of my account to HarrogetaMama (deliberately spelled wrong to trick people) – and they were trying to extort money from my followers asking for investment.”

The suspicious Instagram post posted last night.

Ms Playford added:

“This meant now I could see what the account had been re-named, I could go through the verification process with Instagram again. This time the selfie verification process worked and I received retrieval codes from Instagram, albeit in Turkish, so Google Translate came in handy!

“After over two hours’ work between my husband and myself we managed to get back into the account. We have now changed the username back to HarrogateMama, changed the email address and set up the two-factor authentication.

“The swift action of so many people alerting me to the hackers posting meant I could get my account back.

“Lessons learned and message to spread about ALWAYS setting up two-factor authentication.”

EnviroVent has extended its stadium sponsorship of Harrogate Town for another two seasons.

The deal will see the company sponsor the Wetherby Road ground until 2023/24.

It will also see EnviroVent work with the Harrogate Town Community Foundation to teach children about climate change as part of the club’s environment programme.

Iain Service, head of foundation for Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation: 

“We are absolutely thrilled that EnviroVent will be helping the community foundation to deliver our new environmental sustainability projects.

“Activities, workshops and campaigns will highlight the importance of climate change, recycling and other ways in which we can do our bit to safeguard our planet for future generations.”

Read more:

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• Harrogate Town plans new scoreboard as part of stadium improvements

The Harrogate-based company manufactures ventilations for house builders and employs more than 250 people at its manufacturing plant, training suite and head office on Hornbeam Park.

EnviroVent is due to move to a new state of the art headquarters on PennyPot Lane.

It has sponsored Harrogate Town for the last nine seasons.

Andy Makin EnviroVent MD, with past winners and runners up (from 2021/22) of the Enviro Way Awards, an internal award voted for by staff members.

Andy Makin, managing director at EnviroVent, said: 

“As a local business with shared ideals, EnviroVent is delighted to announce a further two-year commitment in our partnership with Harrogate Town AFC.   

“We were excited to become stadium sponsor when the club was promoted to the National League and now, two years on, we are very happy at the prospect of building further on our relationship. This will allow closer links with the club on the pitch and its great work, off the pitch, in our local community.”

Joanne Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town AFC, said:

“We are delighted EnviroVent is continuing its partnership with the Club as Stadium Sponsors, our like-minded values create an enjoyable and rewarding working relationship.

“We are very fortunate and thankful to have EnviroVent behind us, the company’s commitment to the club is invaluable.”

Harrogate District Hospital recorded an increase in heat-related illnesses during this week’s record-breaking temperatures as it also warned of extra pressures from a further rise in covid patients.

The hospital saw a 10% increase in visitors with conditions such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, while covid patient numbers have tripled to 33 since the end of June.

Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said demand on services was “higher than we would typically expect” for summer and that there is “no doubt” much of this was due to the pandemic.

He added: 

“Extreme weather, such as heatwaves, also adds additional pressure on hospital services.

“We need to ensure that the people in our care and our staff are not unduly affected by increasing temperatures and we have severe weather plans in place to address any issues.

“Waiting times to be seen during these times can also be longer than usual due to demand.”

Temperatures are easing today after approaching 40 degrees in the district yesterday when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a ‘major incident’ on the hottest day ever recorded in the county. It said today it had ‘stood down’ this status.

Gosh it was a hot one yesterday! ☀️ As you know we, like most other fire services around the country, declared a major incident due to the level of demand. The good news is we have now stood down this status and have returned to expected levels of demand.

— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) July 20, 2022

As well as causing a surge in demand for emergency services, the heatwave also led to cancellations for train services and forced some schools to shut.

The forecast for today is still warm, but cooler on Thursday and Friday with highs of 19C in Harrogate.

Covid pressures

Covid infections and hospital admissions have been creeping up since the end of spring and after the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron.

Dr Shepherd said while most patients are not falling seriously ill with the virus, it was still causing pressure for the hospital which is battling long backlogs.

He said: 

“Since we emerged from lockdown, our priority has been to reduce the backlog for operations and treatment.

“The increased number of planned operations being performed has added to the pressures, but it has meant we have been able to reduce our waiting lists and no longer have any patients who have been waiting over two years for treatment.”

Read more:

• Positive covid patients at Harrogate hospital doubles in three weeks
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service declares ‘critical incident’ status

The Harrogate district’s weekly infection rate has been climbing steadily over the last few months and currently stands at 288 cases per 100,000 people.

The latest figure is up from 52 in May, but well below the previous peak of 1,007 in March.

The increase comes as the government has announced that everyone aged 50 and over will be offered a booster vaccine this autumn to top up their immunity.

Younger people at high risk from covid, as well as health and social care staff, will also get the booster.

Dr Shepherd added: 

“Covid vaccinations have been extremely successful in reducing the severity of the virus, however, the highly infectious nature of the new variants is having an impact at our hospital.

“Thankfully, most patients who have tested positive are here for other medical issues or surgical procedures rather than having acute covid symptoms.

“However, in most cases it does mean that their treatment cannot be progressed until they test negative, which increases the time they need to stay in hospital and reduces the number of beds we have available.

“Whilst we are much better prepared at treating covid than we were two years ago, this virus has not gone away and it still has a significant impact on the hospital and is still a threat to people’s health – particularly vulnerable or unvaccinated patients.”

North Yorkshire Police has said it will refer the owner of four dogs who were left inside a baking hot car to the RSCPA.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that bystanders at Oak Beck Retail Park off Skipton Road had to smash a Land Rover Discovery window to free the dogs.

They had been trapped for over half an hour without even a window open.

Fortunately, there were vets working at the nearby Vets4Pets, which is inside Pets At Home.

The Labradors were given treatment and after a health check that showed they were OK, were handed back to the owner.

But that might not be the end of the matter. A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson has confirmed that an officer spoke to the male owner and will refer the incident to the RSPCA.

A spokesperson said:

“Members of the public witnessed the dogs being left unattended with the windows up and seemingly without air conditioning for around 30 minutes.

“One of them smashed a window on the vehicle and the dogs were taken into the care of a vet.

“Police spoke to the owner of the dogs and are due to report him to the RSPCA.”

Read more:

• Four dogs rescued from hot car in Harrogate given back to owner
• Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate

What powers does the RSPCA have?

A care provider has pledged that none of its residents will be forced to move when it ends leases at three council-owned buildings in Harrogate.

Anchor Hanover has decided to give notice on buildings on Kings Road, York Place and Brunswick Drive which are owned by Harrogate Borough Council and used as retirement homes.

Joanne Hanson, regional head of housing at the care company, said it made the decision as the buildings require “extensive works…. to suit the needs of older residents”.

She added no one will be required to move out, while the council has confirmed it will take on the properties as affordable housing.

Ms Hanson said: 

“We have a long history of working closely with Harrogate Borough Council to provide good quality retirement housing, providing valued services to residents and the local community.

“We regularly review all of our locations looking at financial viability, the investment required and the needs of current and potential customers, both now and in the future.

“After carrying out a review of this nature here, we have identified that extensive works are required to modernise these properties to suit the needs of older residents.

“Our priority is the welfare of our residents and we will be working closely with the council to effect a smooth transition.”

Read More:

• Harrogate residents set to be asked if they want a town council
• New town with 3,000 homes could get just 20% affordable housing

The leases have been in place since the 1980s and are worth £6,000 per year for all three buildings.

The retirement homes range from nine to six bedrooms which are rented out by people over the age of 55 who receive different levels of care.

The swift action of Harrogate Business Improvement District street ranger Chris Ashby may have saved a man’s life this morning. 

Mr Ashby (pictured) found a young man hanging from a tree in Library Gardens, shortly after 6.15am.

He was working on the town’s floral displays at the time.

Mr Ashby told the Stray Ferret: 

“At first I thought that the man, who I estimate to be in his 20s, was asleep up against the tree, but then I noticed the rope around his neck and I used a large pair of scissors to cut him down.

“He was blue, but still breathing, so I put him in the recovery position and called the emergency services.”

Emergency services in Harrogate’s Library Gardens this morning.

An ambulance and police were quickly on the scene and after attention by paramedics, the young man was taken to hospital. 

Mr Ashby said he was on duty an hour earlier than usual, tending to town centre floral displays ahead of Britain in Bloom judging that takes place later today.

Anyone struggling with mental health can receive help from Samaritans by calling the freephone number 116123.

Read more:

• Harrogate firefighters battle extreme heat as five fields go up in flames
• Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate

The extreme heat over the past two days is still effecting some Harrogate district train services this morning.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update

Roads

Drivers should expect the usual traffic on Wetherby Road and Skipton Road this morning during the rush hour.

Works are due to take place today at the junction with Leadhall Lane and Hookstone Road in Harrogate to replace junction markings, according to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map.

The work is scheduled to finish tomorrow.

Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

Trains and buses

Following the heatwave, Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, LNER is urging passengers not to travel to London Kings Cross due to damage to the rail line near Peterborough which was caused during the hot weather.

This has led to the direct service from Harrogate to London Kings Cross at 9.36am being cancelled as repairs are carried out.

The Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on the 1C and the 7 this morning.

You can find out more information on the disruption here.

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The areas which could pay an extra tax to fund a Harrogate Town Council have been revealed for the first time in a new map.

A consultation on whether to create the new council will be held this summer after the proposal gathered the support of politicians in Harrogate .

Harrogate and Scarborough are the only two areas in North Yorkshire not to be parished.

And although the move has been well supported by councillors, it will be residents who have the final say on whether it should go ahead.

A new map (pictured above) from North Yorkshire County Council has revealed which areas could vote in this poll and ultimately be served by the town council.

These include:

High Harrogate and Kingsley
Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate
Fairfax and Starbeck
Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone
Harlow and St Georges
Bilton Grange and New Park
Bilton and Nidd Gorge
Most of Coppice Valley and Duchy
Parts of Oatlands and Pannal
Parts of Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate

It has been argued that creating a town council will help Harrogate keep control of its prized public buildings and some services such as parks and tourism when the existing county and borough councils are abolished next April.

The existing councils will be replaced by a new North Yorkshire Council which could filter down some powers to all town and parish councils in what has been hailed as a “double devolution”.

Those were the words of councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, who also previously said more than one town or parish council could be created in Harrogate – if that’s what voters wanted.

Read More:

• Harrogate residents set to be asked if they want a town council
• New town with 3,000 homes could get just 20% affordable housing

A decision to hold the upcoming consultation was agreed at a meeting of the county council’s executive today when the next steps of the legal process known as a community governance review were set out.

Councillor David Chance, executive member for corporate services, said:

“In the first set of consultations we will consult with the relevant people in the affected areas to gain their views.
“We will then take those views and make recommendations for approval.
“If it was considered appropriate to create town councils, we would then be looking to make such recommendations within a 12-month period.
“And then new town councils could potentially be created in 2024.”

Other services which could come under the control of a Harrogate Town Council include events, markets, play areas, community centres and allotments.

These arrangements are already in place at the likes of Knaresborough Town Council and Ripon City Council which charge £25.27 and £70.77 respectively for their annual parish precepts.

The idea of a Harrogate Town Council has already won the support of members of the outgoing Harrogate Borough Council who made calls for the process to be sped up.

County council leader Carl Les also said he believed Harrogate and Scarborough would both be “well served” by a lower tier of local government.

He previously said:

“I’m a great advocate of parish and town councils.
“That said, it is for the people to decide whether they want them or not.
“I’m very keen that we start the process as soon as possible and we will go to the public in Harrogate and Scarborough at the earliest opportunity.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate sales director in line for national social mobility award

A senior sales director in Harrogate has been shortlisted for a national award.

Rob Manton, who works for Procter and Gamble at its Harrogate branch on Hornbeam Park, is nominated in the mentor of the year category of the UK Social Mobility Awards.

The awards recognise UK organisations working to improve social mobility in their workforces, as well as elsewhere. They are organised by societal change charity Making the Leap and have been running for six years.

Mr Manton said:

“It’s a real honour to be selected as a finalist for mentor of the year. It’s a role that I take huge pleasure in playing, helping support a more diverse and inclusive recruitment programme to enable more people from different backgrounds to have the same opportunities to reach their potential.

“Through the partnerships we have built at P&G I have had the pleasure of meeting some exceedingly talented young people who have so much to offer to businesses, some of whom we have welcomed to P&G as apprentices.

“I would like to wish all the finalists good luck; it’s wonderful to see the commitment to drive change across so many companies – it’s this momentum we need to level the playfield for everyone.”

He is nominated alongside Ian Morley, P&G’s vice-president for sales in northern Europe, who has been shortlisted in the champion of the year category.

The winners will be decided by an independent judging panel chaired by the Lord Lieutenant of London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE. The results will be announced at a gala event in October.

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Contractor begins work at Ripon Spa Hotel

Work has begun on the refurbishment of Ripon Spa Hotel.

It was bought by The Inn Collection Group last June for an undisclosed sum.

Now, contractor STP Construction, from Gateshead, has started work to transform the 40-bedroom hotel. Its ballroom and terrace bar will also be renovated, along with the self-contained Turf Tavern Bar Bistro.

Speaking last year after The Inn Collection Group bought the hotel, managing director Sean Donkin said:

“Its picturesque location in such a popular part of the UK makes it the perfect fit for The Inn Collection Group and our offering.

“We’re excited to be furthering our expansion plans with such a great site, and are proud to be continuing to thrive during these challenging times for the hospitality sector.”

The Inn Collection Group, based in Newcastle, has more than 30 venues in its portfolio, mostly across the north-east and north-west of England.

This week, it appointed STP Construction for another of its properties, the 53-bedroom former Park Hotel in Tynemouth, North Tyneside.

Harrogate firefighters dealt with five field fires on the hottest day of the year today.

On a day when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to the number of call-outs, the crew at Harrogate attended three major fires.

At first they were called to a blaze near Forest Lane in Harrogate at about 1pm where an area of woodland measuring 20m x 20m had caught fire. Harrogate fire station put on Facebook:

“We believe a discarded cigarette, or strong sunlight shining through a broken glass bottle may have caused the fire.”

After extinguishing the fire, one of the Harrogate appliances was sent to a standing crop on fire in a field near Marton cum Grafton, between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

The fire station said on Facebook:

“Due to the extremely dry conditions the fire caught hold of four fields very quickly. The wind direction kept changing making the condition challenging.

“Fire crews also came to help from Knaresborough fire station, Ripon, Acom, and the water bowser from Tadcaster.

“Crews worked hard in the extreme heat (nearly 40 degrees!) to extinguish the fire using hosereel jets, main branches and beaters.

“Thanks also goes to the farmers for helping out and putting a fire break in the crop.”

While this was going on, the second Harrogate fire engine was called to a field on fire near Northallerton.

Read more:

• Drone captures scale of Ripon field fire
• Fire destroys workshop in Harrogate district

“As you can imagine, the ground is tinder-dry at the moment making it easy for fire to spread quickly.

“So please do be careful if you are out and about. Make sure you discard cigarettes carefully and avoid having barbecues.”