A lucky couple got 75 per cent knocked off a top of the range £2,300 television as part of independent Skipton shop Harry Garlick’s Mad Weekend. Every year for more than ten years, the High Street electrical goods shop has been running its pre-Christmas event. Customers are given the chance to pick up discount tickets of anything between seven and a half per cent to the top 75 per cent. And winners of the top ticket, Mr and Mrs Holmes, pictured left, chose to use their discount and save an impressive £1,725 on their curved television - and just in time for Christmas too. The Mad Weekend, which ran from Friday to Sunday, has become a firm favourite with customers, and shows how a small, independent shop can compete with the big boys, and the internet.

The Open Space Society, the oldest national conservation body, is encouraging people to register land as common, and is focusing on North Yorkshire as one of the places where it aims to make it possible. People can register as part of the Commons Act 2006, and North Yorkshire is being included from December. The society says this will enable public access and protect land from encroachment. An Open Space spokeswoman said: “We believe there are approximately 1,900sq kms of land which could be registered as common in England and Wales.” Registered land will be mapped for access in the next review under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2,000 and if successful public will gain the right to walk there. Detailed advice is available on the website commonsregistration.org.uk Rising television star and all-round good bloke Guy Martin appeared at Hope Technology in Barnoldswick on Monday during his Speed With Guy Martin series. The hugely enjoyable series has followed Guy on a series of challenges, as he set about breaking various speed records. And in the last of the series, he attempted to break the gravity speed record down a hill more normally used by road cyclists in France. Guy’s ‘go-kart’ specially designed by a team of university experts, featured brakes made by leaders in the field, here in Barnoldswick - and, of course, he managed to break the record.

Staff from a Thornton-in-Craven care home held a fancy dress day with a difference on Tuesday. They staged a onesie day and coffee morning to raise money for the amenities fund at the Thornton Hill home. Care home manager Joanne Hickey said: “The onesie day is part of our ongoing programme of fundraising for the residents so that we can invite in entertainers or take them out on day trips which aim to stimulate the residents physically and mentally. These events are also a great occasion to inject a bit of fun into the day with the staff dazzling the residents with their unusual attire.”

With winter just around the corner, Skipton’s Fisher Medical Centre and Age UK are hosting an event today to make residents feel the warmth of the local community. Called Winter Warmer, it will take place at Embsay Village Hall, and has been organised to give help and practical support to people living in North Yorkshire. Health promotion officer Emma Taylor said: “Conscious of how the cold and dark can isolate people in some communities, the practice health champions (volunteers of Fisher Medical Centre), are inviting people to spread the warmth at a Winter Warmer event. Winter can be a dangerous time and, according to Age UK, one person dies every seven minutes due to the cold. This is a very sobering thought and something we need to work harder to prevent. The event will highlight how residents and the elderly in particular, can stay warm and keep healthy during the winter. It’s also a chance to meet neighbours and other members of the local community - and emphasises the importance of watching out for each other during the difficult winter months.” Several agencies will be on hand at today’s event to offer free information and advice. There will also be free soups and rolls, games and an opportunity to buy homemade gifts for Christmas. The event will run from11am to 2pm and a bus runs from Skipton Bus Station (stand 6) to Embsay at 11am and returns at 2.10pm.

Young Eastby chef Joshua Fry showed his culinary skills off to perfection on BBC’s Junior MasterChef TV show. His dishes, including pancakes and rack of lamb, were praised by judges Donal Skehan and John Torode, but were not enough to get him through to the next round of the contest. But the 10-year-old, of Barden Road, a pupil of Burnsall Primary School, was not fazed and hugely enjoyed demonstrating his cooking skills to the nation, said his mum Helen Fry. “Joshua feels he did his very best in what is a very pressurised situation and is happy with that,” she said. “The other contestants were absolutely lovely and extremely friendly towards Joshua, so that helped to make it an enjoyable experience too. He loved every minute of it and is determined to develop his cooking skills. He got a hero’s welcome in school the day after it was shown!”