Editor's Pick of the Week: Shops close quicker than MPs deleting photos of Peter Mandelson

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Wanted — rich person to pump oodles of money into football club on a 20-match winless run. Harrogate Town chairman Irving Weaver said this week “conversations are ongoing” about finding “suitable investors” for the club, which is 92nd of 92 teams in the league pyramid, and 16-1 on to get relegated.

With Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney owning Wrexham and rapper Snoop Dogg a co-owner of Swansea City, could a wealthy celebrity take a punt on Harrogate? Perhaps Leeds United fan Russell Crowe fancies owning a club and is looking for a cheap option close to Elland Road.

If someone did bite, they’d be sure of a warm reception — Harrogate was named the UK’s most welcoming place this week. Opposition fans would no doubt concur, having frequently helped themselves to three points on their travels to Wetherby Road.

Drivers, however, might find Harrogate somewhat less welcoming given the volume of roadworks and the district’s notoriously high fuel prices. There was, therefore, interest in the launch of the government’s Fuel Finder scheme this week, which obliges forecourts to provide details of price changes within 30 minutes. We subsequently published details of the cheapest, and most expensive, local petrol stations.

The district’s cultural offering came under the microscope this week. Harrogate Town Council agreed to hire a project manager to draw up an expression of interest for the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition. Knaresborough is also mulling a bid; a public meeting is being held on Monday (February 9) to pursue the idea. With a castle, a bed race and tug of war battles over the River Nidd, it certainly has an eclectic mix.

Shops appear to be closing quicker than Labour MPs are deleting photos of themselves with Peter Mandelson. In Ripon, the Original Factory Shop announced it was to cease trading after more than 40 years on Fishergate while in Harrogate, Daniel Footwear followed the recent path trodden by Claire’s and Revolución de Cuba by preparing to close for good. Womenswear brand LK Bennett also faces an uncertain future.

At least Harrogate has two cinemas. But which one is better? Columnist Andrew Gray weighed up the options this week. With the endless cloud, there are worse options than a night at the Odeon or the Everyman this weekend.