This live blog of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is proudly sponsored by Boundless Networks – delivering quality broadband connectivity at a reasonable cost to homes and businesses in the Harrogate district.

The sun is out as four days of jubilee celebrations get underway in the Harrogate district today.

The Stray Ferret will be covering the festivities and the fun, the street parties and the ceremonies over the next four days in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, and the villages in between.

We want to hear what’s happening in your town, village or city so email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add it to the blog.

5.24pm: Will it stay dry for tonight’s beacons?

It’s been a warm and sunny opening day to the jubilee celebrations but it is clouding over.

Beacons are due to be lit across the Harrogate district tonight, with most occurring at 9.45pm. According to the BBC weather forecast for Harrogate, some rain is possible.

Spofforth Castle, Ripon Market Square,  Almscliffe Crag in North Rigton, the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, Kirkby Malzeard and Roomer Common in Masham are among the locations taking part.

So too is Knaresborough Castle, where Tamsin from the Stray Ferret will be among the onlookers.

4.35pm: Spofforth hosts children’s party

Fresh from his trip to Blubberhouses, our reporter Tom has been to Spofforth to witness today’s jubilee activities.

You can read his full account here.

4.17pm: Great and the good attend Ripon Cathedral’s civic event

Julian Smith MP

Harry Gration

North Yorkshire dignitaries gathered at Ripon Cathedral today for a service in honour of the Queen.

Those attending included the Archbishop of York, Ripon MP Julian Smith, Grantley Hall owner Valeria Sykes and former Look North presenter Harry Gration.

You can read our Ripon reporter Tim’s full account here.

3.58pm: Human plant pots in Harrogate town centre

Last year there was fake grass in Harrogate town centre — now there are human plant pots. And they’re certainly proving more popular with visitors, who posed for photos alongside them. It’s all part of the jubilee fun. Send us your jubilee pictures to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

3.27pm: First street party underway in Pannal Ash

Most street parties are on Sunday but the residents of Castle Hill Glade in Pannal Ash thought today might be a more family-friendly day and, judging by the weather forecast, they may have chosen the right day

Rachel Baskin (pictured far left), who applied for the street closure, told us the party idea evolved from covid, when residents living on the cul-de-sac would have socially distanced meetings on Thursdays.

There’s also an informal group called Ladies of Glade, who meet a glass of wine each week.

Residents in nearby streets are bringing their own teas and sitting outside together to enjoy the occasion.

2.55pm: Bilton’s Party on the Pitch proves a hit

People are pouring into Bilton Cricket Club’s free Party on the Pitch event, which runs until 9pm.

We’ve just been down and there is a wonderful atmosphere, which shows there is a great community spirit in Bilton and a thirst for get togethers like this since the demise of Bilton Gala on May Day.

There’s a barbecue, live music and plenty for children to do. People are just rocking up and having a picnic on the pitch.

Matt Thomas, cricket secretary, estimated about 1,000 people were there an hour ago and the number is growing. He added:

“It’s a great opportunity for the local community to get together and have fun.”

There is a collection for Yorkshire Air Ambulance — a cause dear to the club’s heart after a player had a heart attack on the pitch at an away game last year.

1.20pm: Jubilee shenanigans on Harrogate’s Beulah Street

It’s not every day you wander along Beulah Street and see people dressed like this belting out Land of Hope and Glory. But that’s what the jubilee does to you. It’s that kind of weekend.

What’s happening out in Bilton, Starbeck and Jennyfields, or in Pateley Bridge? Wherever you are in the Harrogate district we want to receive your jubilee news and images. Email us and we will add them to this live blog.

1.12pm: Live music all day in Ripon 

Among those early to arrive on Market Square was four-year-old Aylar and her mum Susannah (pictured), who were blowing bubbles as the free entertainment started on stage with Lily Worth.

Lily sang a selection of songs from musicals, including the Greatest Showman. There is free live music all day in Ripon’s Market Square.

Meanwhile, a giant TV screen next to Ripon Town Hall linked the city to Horseguards Parade in London, where the Trooping the Colour ceremony, broadcast live on the BBC, marked the Queen’s official birthday.

Lily Worth on stage in Ripon today.

The big screen.

1.01pm: Blubberhouses flower festival tells Queen’s story

Our reporter Tom has been to Blubberhouses, where a jubilee-themed flower festival is underway.

You can visit it at St Andrew’s Church in Blubberhouses, just past Fewston Reservoir off the A59, from 11am to 4pm every day over the four-day weekend.

Further details are here.

12.26pm: Bishop leads county service of celebration 

Ripon is pulling out the stops this weekend with activities galore, and Ripon Cathedral is at the heart of things. The Bishop of Ripon has tweeted about a service she led this morning.

https://twitter.com/HartleyHAM/status/1532321794765488128

12.05pm: Ripon mum wins Bettys Jubilee Bake Off 

Ripon mum Lori Hendry (pictured holding the cake) has beaten three other shortlisted bakers to win the Bettys Jubilee Bake Off.

Lori’s Victoria sponge decorated with red, white and blue icing adorned with a crown and Union Jack flags wowed the judges. You can read more here.

11.10am: Free rides, entertainment and face painting in Valley Gardens

Free events are taking place in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens until 6pm. It’s very much a family occasion: kids can meet Elsa, Batman and Cinderella (pictured above), ride on the runaway train, climb a wall, jump on a bungee trampoline, watch jugglers — all for free.

Elsewhere in Harrogate, on a section of the Stray, which has been renamed Jubilee Square, people can watch a big screen of the BBC coverage of the jubilee.

10.27am: Recycling depots open as usual

North Yorkshire County Council tweets that its household recycling centres are open as normal this bank holiday weekend.

All our household waste recycling centres are open, as usual, from 8.30am to 5pm, throughout the Queen's #PlatinumJubilee bank holiday weekend.

Find your nearest site and what items you can take athttps://t.co/llRAH0z30s pic.twitter.com/rASZiF1jhk

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 2, 2022

9.32am: Bishop Monkton choir starts the jubilee weekend

Bishop Monkton kicked off the jubilee weekend last night a community concert given by a choir developed on Zoom during the pandemic.

The choir entertained an audience of 120 in the village hall with a show titled Seven Decades of Song, featuring music from the 1940s to the present day. The concert included hits from musicals like Oklahoma and the Sound of Music as well as more recent numbers from Leonard Cohen and Gary Barlow.

The choir grew out of the village’s Singing for Fun group, which had started just before the pandemic and which kept going through the covid lockdowns by meeting on Zoom. The show included a live rendition of a song called Lockdown, written during covid by the village’s jubilee queen, Pauline Beecroft, to the tune of the Petula Clark 1960s hit Downtown.

The concert ended with the singing of Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and the National Anthem.

Thanks to Colin Philpott for sending us this jubilee news in Bishop Monkton. What’s happening where you are? Message us your jubilee news and pictures at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

8.52am: Free music all day in Ripon

The stage is set in Ripon for the biggest royal party of the ancient city’s long history. Lily Worth will kick off a day of free music at 10.30am and she will be followed by Ripon’s own talented singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary.

Later, tribute acts will sing the songs of Stevie Wonder, Cilla Black, George Michael, the Everly Brothers and Katherine Jenkins. For nostalgia lovers, there will be wartime songs of Vera Lynn and others from 4.50pm.

Organisers Ripon City Council are hoping that the blue skies that have started the day will remain over the town hall and stage facing onto Market Square, where large crowds are anticipated.

8.45am: Stray Ferret journalists set to hit the road 

Tim will be in Ripon all day and for the lighting of the beacon.

Tom plans to head to Blubberhouses and Spofforth

John will be in and around Harrogate

Tamsin will be in Knaresborough for tonight’s beacon lighting.

Say hello if you see us in our Stray Ferret hats and please send us your photos to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will do our best to upload them on to our blog throughout the day.

A Boroughbridge police officer and an army officer based at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate are amongst the local residents recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In this jubilee year, the Queen has recognised the service of four Harrogate district residents.

Knighthood

Martyn Oliver, chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, has been knighted for services to education.

The trust sponsors 40 schools in northern England, including Outwood Primary Academy Greystone and Outwood Academy in Ripon.

MBE

Barry Appleton, at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, has been made an MBE for his military service.

The warrant officer’s role at the college is to take care of the welfare of the 300 military staff and their families.

The college provides basic training to 1,300 under 18s. The honours list describes how he uses his imagination to “engage with and support his community, providing constant oversight and support in excess of what seemed possible”.

He has worked at the college for more than a decade and in that time looked after hundreds of military and civilian families.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ellen Hughes, from Harrogate, has been made an MBE for services to sport during covid.

Ms Hughes is currently director of special projects at Sport England after starting her career in grassroots sport as a project manager at North Yorkshire County Sports Partnership.

She has been responsible for delivering the government’s £600million sports survival package to support spectator sports during covid when fans weren’t allowed in venues.

She has given funding to more than 1,200 organisations through this scheme and was also responsible for giving £32.7million worth of covid funding to rugby league teams.

Colin William Rodham, from Knaresborough, has been made an MBE for services to flood risk management in the Yorkshire region.

Mr Rodham currently works as a senior officer in the Environment Agency.

Read more:

• From corgis to bollard covers: Harrogate district is getting into jubilee spirit
• LIVE: 28 Harrogate district street parties planned as jubilee nears

BEM

Sharron Moverley-Homes, from Boroughbridge, has been made an BEM for services to policing.

Ms Moverley-Holmes is a special chief officer in the North Yorkshire Police Special Constabulary. Since joining the police in 1984 she has remained in the North Yorkshire force calling it “the family I could never leave”.

Over the three decades, she said she has worked in a number of departments but being out in the community remains the most rewarding part:

“The bread and butter of policing is being visible and speaking to members of the public. That could be walking the streets or it could be when they need us the most and are at the worst point in their lives.”

Ms Moverley-Holmes manages the special constabulary which is a collection of part-time volunteer officers. She said working with those willing to give up their free time is “truly rewarding” and dedicated her award to their hard work.

She said another passion of her’s is to ensure the force is as open and inclusive as it can be, she said to serve the community we must represent it, adding:

“Policing was very different when I started and so was the world. I hope my legacy is that we are open to everyone and inclusive.”

Talking about receiving the award, she said:

“I was shocked, surprised, I had to hide it away for a few hours and go back and check I hadn’t read it wrong. It’s a huge privilege to be recognised for a job I love.”

This weekend, on June 5, a group of special constables and Ms Moverely-Holmes will be walking 30 miles from York to Tadcaster to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Special Constable Glenn Goodman who was fatally shot whilst on patrol in Tadcaster.

Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service

Lisa Winward, the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Ms Winward joined Humberside Police as a regular officer in 1994, before transferring to North Yorkshire in 2008, and took the position of Chief Constable in April 2018.

She is a national ambassador for volunteering, taking the National Police Chief Council lead for Citizens in Policing for a number of years and is national lead for women’s health and the intelligence portfolio.

Ms Winward, said:

“I simply wouldn’t be where I am today without all of the people who have helped me, taught me, inspired and motivated me and worked alongside me in the wonderful team that is policing. It is a privilege to be a public servant and a police officer.”

Boroughbridge business leader Richard Doyle, the founder of Pabasso, has been awarded Northern mentor of the year at the Northern Leadership Awards. 

Pabasso is a peer advisory board, which connects business leaders across the UK to support the growth of their businesses. The company organises weekly meetings, 1 to 1 mentoring sessions and peer coaching events.

Richard Doyle said the award was “unexpected but gratefully received.”

He added:

“It’s always nice to be publicly recognised but it’s really about the business leaders that we are working with and helping to grow and develop their businesses.”

The awards ceremony took place last week at The Queens Hotel in Leeds, and it was attended by around 300 people.

The event was hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com and included a leadership conference before the awards were announced.

Harrogate florist awarded silver-gilt medal at Chelsea flower show

Harrogate florist, Helen James Flowers, has been awarded a silver-gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea flower show.  

The floristry exhibit ‘Nature’s Table’, was praised by the judges and members of the public who attended the show.  

The ‘Roots for Life’ brief was to design and create a tablescape that took inspiration from the beauty of the natural world, and included a horticultural message. 

Sustainable techniques and materials were used in the installation, as oil based floral foams & plastics are now banned from RHS Shows. 

Helen James said:  

“Chelsea was amazing and although we have competed at Chelsea before, the competition format was completely different this year.

The exhibit was much bigger and took three days to install but preparations have been ongoing since January.” 

She added:  

“We even had a few visitors from Harrogate who made a point of coming to say hello and offer their congratulations.” 

The silver-gilt medal at the Chelsea flower show comes between silver and gold. This year, it was awarded to three other tablescape installations alongside Helen James Flowers. 

Ms James has previously won RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year in 2019.  

Read more: 

• Harrogate garden centre launch new hydrangea at Chelsea Flower Show 
• Killinghall awnings company wins national business award  

Boroughbridge Town Council has called on North Yorkshire County Council to prioritise repair work on Roecliffe Lane.

The council has described the pot holed-road as an “eyesore” and a “hazard” and say it has been like this for several years.

The road is frequently used by motorists heading into the town centre. It is also part of Sustrans’ ‘Ways of the Roses’ long distance cycle route.

The town council has been lobbying senior members at the county council, which is the highways authority, for two years ago but is yet to receive a formal date when repairs can begin.

Today, the county council responded to the Stray Ferret to say it is looking to add it to a list of planned works for next year.

A spokesperson for the town council said:

“Boroughbridge Town Council remain deeply concerned about the condition of the surface of Roecliffe Lane in Boroughbridge. We are pushing hard at executive level at North Yorkshire County Council to get the required action taken and will continue to do so.

“We have formally requested the remedial action required to be prioritised ahead of a large list of other road improvement programmes North Yorkshire County Council are working their way through.

“We are very much aware of complaints from residents about the road which makes us fight even harder for the required corrective action.”

The town council added that the road does “not reflect Boroughbridge in a good light”.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services, said:

“North Yorkshire is England’s largest county with 5,753 miles of roads, and our teams work hard throughout the year to maintain a safe, efficient road network.

“We have listened to the concerns raised by Boroughbridge Town Council and agree that repair work will be needed and a scheme is to be included in our Forward Programme. Although it is not included in our planned works for the current financial year we are looking at our budget and the options we have to deliver a scheme as soon as possible after that.”

Read more:

• Fears for trees in next Otley Road cycle path phase
• Surface dressing on local roads begins under new contractor

Rural property firm GSC Grays has opened a new office in Boroughbridge.

The High Street branch, which opened on Monday, is the company’s ninth office to open in the past 10 years.

It now employs over 100 people, mainly in the north of England. Twenty-three are based at the Boroughbridge branch, five of whom have been newly recruited. 

A number of the farm and land management consultants are from the local area, and some members of staff grew up or live on farms.  

Managing director Guy Coggrave said:  

“This gives us exceptional expertise at a time when the farming industry is dealing with the impact of the Agricultural Transition Plan, the biggest change in agricultural policy in half a century.”

GSC Grays specialises in land and farming, estate agency, planning and development, and environment and sustainability.  

HSBC and Harrogate BID install third contactless donation point for Street Aid

A third contactless donation point for Street Aid has been installed by HSBC and Harrogate Business Improvement District in Harrogate town centre.  

The ‘tap terminal’ encourages people to make donations to Street Aid, which supports people in Harrogate who have experienced homelessness.  

The most recent donation point is in the Cambridge Street branch of HSBC, where donations from £3 to £20 can be made via a contactless payment.  

The new donation point in HSBC

Linda Lewis, senior network manager at HSBC, said:  

“It’s our pleasure to be part of this scheme and house the third Street Aid terminal.  

“Since its installation, I’ve seen a number of customers tapping it with either a card or a phone to make a donation.” 

The scheme was launched in October 2019, after research was conducted by Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Homeless Project and North Yorkshire Horizons.  

Since then, the charity has raised over £20,000 through online donations and the three donation points. 

The two other stations are in the Oxford Street M&S window and in Victoria shopping centre. 

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:  

“We are delighted to throw our weight behind the Street Aid scheme, which helps those who are genuinely in need get back on their feet. 

“We want Harrogate to be known as a friendly, caring, welcoming town.” 

Money raised has been administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation to fund items for 28 individuals, ranging from fishing equipment, furniture, a gym membership, bikes and clothing.  

A Conservative MP has described plans by his own government to build an asylum centre in Linton-On-Ouse as an “abuse of power”.

Kevin Hollinrake, who represents Thirsk and Malton, called a debate in the House of Commons on the matter yesterday.

The government is pressing ahead with plans to house 1,500 asylum seekers for up to six months in a ‘reception centre’ a former RAF base in the village, which is four miles from Great Ouseburn and Little Ouseburn in the Harrogate district, nine miles from Boroughbridge and 13 miles from Knaresborough.

However, the plan has been widely criticised by residents and politicians.

During the debate yesterday, Mr Hollinrake said:

He said:

“I said right at the start that this is an abuse of power, and I do not think that is putting it too strongly. The Home Office is using its emergency powers, with a Q notice, so it did not have to go through the planning process for this material change of use, which it undoubtedly is.

“The reason for those powers—why is it an emergency?—was, we were told, covid. Well, we thought that covid was actually largely behind us, especially at this time of year.

“I do not think it is right to say that covid can be one of the reasons why we are using emergency powers in this way.”

Read more:

• Ripon refugee charity joins calls opposing 1,500 asylum seekers at Linton
• Village on fringes of Harrogate district to house asylum seekers

Mr Hollinrake went on to question what support and funding would be in place ahead of asylum seekers arriving at the centre.

Police car and CCTV to be deployed

He said he had been told a double manned police car would be located in the village 24/7 and CCTV would be installed.

However, Mr Hollinrake said it was unclear when those plans would be put in place.

He said:

“Those potential mitigations would help, but it is not clear that those plans will be in place on May 31 when service users move in. I have also not seen a clear plan anywhere.”

He added that there has been “an indication” by the Home Office that next week’s first set of arrivals, which includes 60 people, may be delayed.

Last week the chair of Ripon City of Sanctuary joined calls to pause plans for the centre.

Residents in Linton-On-Ouse ahead of a public meeting over the planned asylum centre. Picture: Linton-On-Ouse Action Group.

Nicola David, chair of the sanctuary, told the Stray Ferret the centre was not suitable for refugees or the village.

She said there would be too many asylum seekers to residents at the site.

She said:

“Everybody is in agreement. Everybody is saying it is completely unsuitable.

“The only people who are saying it is [a good idea] is the Home Office.”

Why are refugees being sent to Linton?

The controversial proposal for Linton-on-Ouse is part of a wider plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.

Before potentially being flown out to the African country, asylum seekers will be held in ‘reception centres’ across the UK for up to six months, with the first announced being at Linton-on-Ouse.

Ms Patel said:

“The global migration crisis and how we tackle illegal migration requires new world-leading solutions. There are an estimated 80 million people displaced in the world and the global approach to asylum and migration is broken.

“Existing approaches have failed and there is no single solution to tackle these problems. Change is needed because people are dying attempting to come to the UK illegally.”

A Ripon refugee charity has joined calls to pause plans to house 1,500 asylum seekers at a former RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse.

Nicola David, chair of Ripon City of Sanctuary, attended a public meeting in the village last night which saw Home Office officials jeered on arrival.

The government is pushing forward with its plan to house 1,500 asylum seekers for up to six months in a ‘reception centre’ on the site, which is four miles from Great Ouseburn and Little Ousburn in the Harrogate district and not far from Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

At the meeting, Ms David described Priti Patel, the home secretary, as a “hypocrite” because she comes from a Ugandan refugee family but shows little compassion for other refugees.

She said the Home Secretary had “pulled up the ladder” behind other refugees.

Ms David told the Stray Ferret:

“How can you put people fleeing war on a military base?”

“It’s a troubling thing to do to asylum seekers.”

Read more:

• Stunning Green win in Ouseburn sets blueprint for future collaborations
• Village on fringes of Harrogate district to house asylum seekers

Ms David, who discussed the issue on BBC Breakfast today, added that it was only the Home Office which wanted the scheme to go-ahead. She pointed out that there would be too many asylum seekers to residents at the site.

She said:

“Everybody is in agreement. Everybody is saying it is completely unsuitable.

“The only people who are saying it is [a good idea] is the Home Office.”

Home Office were not living their best life last night – from the moment they arrived, they took a pounding. I put it to them that Priti & Rishi are hypocrites who, as children of immigrants, have had every opportunity in this country but have pulled up the ladder behind them. https://t.co/t8hygkNlRY pic.twitter.com/jdjmgXL5iT

— Ripon City of Sanctuary (@RiponCoS) May 20, 2022

Residents at last night’s meeting were told that 60 asylum seekers will arrive at the site by the end of the month and will be mostly men.

Home Office officials also said Ms Patel planned to visit the village to speak with residents about the centre.

The controversial proposal for Linton-on-Ouse comes as part of a wider plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.

Before potentially being flown out to the African country, asylum seekers will be held in ‘reception centres’ across the UK for up to six months, with the first announced being at Linton-on-Ouse.

Ms Patel said:

“The global migration crisis and how we tackle illegal migration requires new world-leading solutions. There are an estimated 80 million people displaced in the world and the global approach to asylum and migration is broken.

“Existing approaches have failed and there is no single solution to tackle these problems. Change is needed because people are dying attempting to come to the UK illegally.”

A Conservative-led council has voiced fury after the Home Office announced it had moved forward plans to open a centre for asylum seekers on the edge of the Harrogate district.

A meeting of Hambleton District Council heard claims the Home Office had treated the residents of Linton-on-Ouse and the surrounding area with “complete contempt” by revealing that 60 people would be arriving at the centre in the isolated village from May 31, weeks earlier than it previously stated.

The centre will be just 10 miles from Boroughbridge and 13 miles from Knaresborough, and on the doorstep of Harrogate district villages such as Nun Monkton, Great Ouseburn and Green Hammerton.

Ministers have insisted the centre, at a former RAF training base, will “provide safe and self-sufficient accommodation”.

They say the centre, where Prince William trained as a pilot, will help end the Home Office’s reliance on expensive hotels, which are costing the taxpayer £4.7million a day.

The authority’s leader, Cllr Mark Robson, said during a meeting with the police and crime commissioner, Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake that the Home Office’s announcement had come as “a bit of a bombshell”.

He said:

“What we were told four to six weeks just before Easter has suddenly become two weeks time.

“I’m in no doubt about how much worry and concern there is in the local community and the surrounding areas about this proposal from government.”

He said the authority was working to get answers about the situation as quickly as it could. Cllr Robson the authority had appointed a legal team and was anticipating receiving advice imminently.

Read more:

• Ouseburn councillor: ‘pause thoughtless Linton asylum centre’

• Village on fringes of Harrogate district to house asylum seekers

The council leader said elected members and officers had been “in constant and robust dialogue” with the Home Office, and that the council was expecting a response to the council’s concerns later this week.

Cllr Robson said:

“We have, in the strongest possible terms, asked that the Home Office pause this proposal immediately to allow for consultation to be carried out and are awaiting the response to this ask.

“Officers and members continue to take part in multi-agency meetings and support and work closely with the local community and surrounding areas. Although frustrating and concerning, it is very important that what we do now doesn’t prejudice any outcome from the legal process.”

‘Goalposts have changes again’

Linton-on-Ouse Cllr Malcolm Taylor said while the community was looking for answers, there was now a “very tight window of opportunity” to take action. He said:

“The goalposts have been changed yet again by the Home Office and I think it is absolutely regrettable and disgraceful the way this Home Office has treated the residents not just of Linton-on-Ouse but the wider community and this council and everybody who is an interested party in this. We need to get answers and we need to get them very quickly.”

Local member Cllr Nigel Knapton added:

“They are playing games with us and it is absolutely disgraceful.”

Police have arrested three men after reports of a trailer theft from a compound near Boroughbridge.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police were called at 9.20pm last night after suspects were seen breaking into the compound and making off with the trailer.

The force used number plate recognition to locate the Land Rover Discovery off the A1(M).

The car was stopped by police off junction 45 after it attempted to make a U-turn.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Security cameras at the premises picked up a partial registration number of the vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, and within minutes it was located by police on the A1(M) heading south. The Land Rover began to make a u-turn in the carriageway, but officers quickly managed to bring it to a stop just after junction 45.

“Three occupants, all men in their 30s, were arrested at the scene, on suspicion of theft, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police. They remain in custody at this time. The trailer will be returned to its rightful owner.”

Read more:

• Unprovoked attack on Ripon teenager
• Policing in Ripon comes under a barrage of fire
• Prolific offender jailed for threatening man with knife in Ripon

A car flipped on to its roof when it swerved to avoid a deer on the A1 near Boroughbridge in the early hours of the morning.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the vehicle left the road and one person was stuck inside.

Its incident log says firefighters used “stabilisation and extrication gear” to free the trapped person.

Harrogate fire station said this morning that one female was out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived and another female was trapped inside. Both are believed to be unharmed after the second female was freed.

The incident, which occurred at about 2.30am, was one of two serious traffic accidents logged in the Harrogate district last night.

At 9.40pm, Ripon firefighters were called when a car collided with a house on Kingston Avenue in the city.

The incident log says:

“No people were trapped, one male occupant of car was treated for a minor ankle injury by paramedics.

“Crews assisted ambulance and police at the scene and gave advice.”

Read more:

• Sid Hawke to be Ripon’s next mayor
• Parents describe ‘chaotic’ morning after Boroughbridge school bus cut