This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare. Please give generously...

The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: ‘This group has changed my life’
This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare. Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s...

Snow transforms Ripon into a winter wonderland
Residents woke up yesterday morning to find Ripon wrapped in a white blanket, as the first significant snowfall of the winter covered the city. The Stray Ferret was on hand to capture images from the Millfield play area at Bondgate Green, as parents and children...

Campaigners shocked as Harrogate district has highest number of fatal accidents in county
Road safety campaigners say they are shocked after data revealed the Harrogate district has the highest number of fatal accidents in the county. Data released by North Yorkshire Council, showed 16 of 89 fatal collisions in North Yorkshire happened in the Harrogate...

Landmark Ripon clock finally repaired after months of standstill
The Victoria Clock Tower in Ripon is now correct more than twice a day, having finally been repaired by North Yorkshire Council. The landmark clock at the junction of North Street, Palace Road and Princess Road has been plagued by problems in recent years, sometimes...

Photo of the Week: Snow at How Hill
This week’s photograph was taken by Andy Graham, capturing the snow early Thursday morning at How Hill, Fountains Abbey Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in...

EXCLUSIVE: Stray Ferret reveals not a single litter fine in Harrogate district for past three years
There has not been a single fine for littering in the Harrogate district over the past three financial years. The figure was revealed by North Yorkshire Council following a Freedom of Information request by the Stray Ferret after repeated coverage of residents'...

Harrogate braced for second leisure services shake-up in three years
Just three years since its last overhaul, Harrogate’s leisure services look set for another restructure. With the formation of Brimhams Active, a council-owned company, Harrogate Borough Council officials promised a new dawn for facilities in the district. This came...

Tory mayoral candidate pledges North Yorkshire bus franchising assessment
The Conservative Party candidate to be the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is prepared to use franchising to improve local bus services. Bus franchising, which is used in London, Manchester and in numerous cities across Europe, means that bus operators are...

The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: Supporting those with young onset dementia
This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare. Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s...

Yemi’s Food Stories: My festive favourites from local suppliers
Food often takes centre stage at Christmas, but there are so many elements to the Christmas meal, it can become overwhelming in the kitchen. So, this week I thought I’d share some of my festive favourites from local suppliers which will be sure to wow all your guests....

Ripon HSBC closed for nearly two weeks for ‘essential maintenance’
Ripon’s last remaining high street bank has closed until December 13 for “essential maintenance”. Diane Whelan (pictured), 86, was one of many disgruntled customers who arrived at the branch on the corner of High Skellgate and Westgate today to find it closed. A sign...

Christmas Markets: a guide to the Harrogate district
The festive season is fast approaching, so we’ve collated a list of all the Christmas markets taking place across the Harrogate district. If you know of one that we have missed, please email [email protected] and we can add it. Harrogate Harrogate Christmas...