Editor's Pick of the Week: Barn fires, Storm Lilian and Harrogate's humanitarian hero

This week has been a whirlwind at the Stray Ferret offices - and I don’t just mean the weather.

On Monday, readers got in touch about billowing smoke being seen from Bilton.

After much driving around, our journalist Flora Grafton spotted fire fighters off Ripon Road tackling a blaze at Knox Hill Farm.

This culminated in multiple articles, including the latest revelation that the fire was started deliberately and police are investigating.

Meanwhile, Friday morning saw disruption for many workers, including myself, thanks to Storm Lilian.

The strong weather caused multiple trees to fall - but also the Harrogate Station sign itself. It wasn’t a great morning for our train services as multiple trains were cancelled due to a fallen tree near Headingley.

Finally, and perhaps the most heart warming of stories this week, 85-year-old John Shackleton will be making his 50th and final humanitarian mission in October.

The octogenarian has featured in the Stray Ferret on multiple occasions as he makes trips to eastern Europe to deliver ambulances.

John driven more than 30 ambulances to the continent, including Ukraine and beyond over the last 34 years.

This week, he confirmed to us that his trip to Kyiv in October will be his last. A tremendous achievement and an example of humanity at its best.

John Plummer is away