EVER fancied a bit of firewalking? Now is your chance to try it - and, at the same time, raise funds for a good cause. Cancer Support is looking for people to sign up to its winter warmer flagship event, the Fire Walk, which will take place at the Keighley Cougars Rugby Ground on Thursday, February 25, from 6.30pm. Fire is one of the most common human fears, but Blaze Fire Walking says that, after a two-hour training session with a professional fire walk trainer, you will be prepared to step onto the 1236 degrees fahrenheit burning wood. Not only will you take away with you an experience of a lifetime, you will also enable Cancer Support to help people in Craven, Airedale and Bradford, affected by cancer. Registration is just £10 and entry forms can be downloaded from bradfordcancersupport.org.uk or call 01274 202226. Spectators are welcome.

THERE was much merriment at the annual budget meeting of Skipton Town Council when a call was made for the landlord to turn the heating on. Cllr Robert Heseltine commented how cold it was and asked whether Craven District Council, owner of Skipton Town Hall, could be persuaded to turn on the heat. But fellow Cllr, Paul Whitaker, wondered how it was former farmer Cllr Heseltine could be feeling the cold. He further joked that Craven’s moles would be happy. Cllr Heseltine catches moles for charity across Craven.

A DEVASTATING piece of news has come to me via a colleague, whose teenage son has spent the last several weeks working at a charity shop in Skipton as part of his school work. He tells her that teddy bears without labels never make it past the sorting stage, and are put straight in the bin “for recycling”. Teddies with labels make it to the shop where they can be bought and found new homes. Now, the problem here, according to the teenage lad, is clearly, the once loved teddies are the ones without labels - their owners having taken them off to avoid chafing. His friend, so my colleague tells me, finds the whole thing so difficult that he has saved several teddies and taken them home.

ONE wonders if the helpful glossary attached to a report to Craven district councillors has something to do with the age of members. The report includes an explanation of ICT - which is very useful seeing as the report is about information and communication technology. It brings to mind an episode of television’s The IT Crowd in which one of the main characters was given a brick-sized box and told it was ‘the internet’.

A CANINE charity has issued an SOS. Aireworth Dogs in Need is desperately seeking more foster homes. The organisation, which covers the whole of the Aire Valley and the Skipton area, has managed to rehome around 200 dogs since it was launched in June 2014. But it needs people willing to foster the animals until they are found permanent homes. “We help rehome dogs from people’s houses but we also rehome from the council pound,” said a spokesman. “After seven days in the pound, very sadly if a rescue isn’t found some of these dogs will be put to sleep. The pound does strive to find as many placements as possible, but we as a rescue then rely on foster homes. Whilst the dogs are in foster care we cover all vet fees etc and give full support.” Anyone able to help can contact the charity through its Facebook page or call 07496 388745.

DID you know that drinking more water can help you lose weight? A YouGov survey has revealed that people living in Skipton and surrounding areas drink on average less than one litre of pure water per day, but if they drank more water they could lose up to five pounds in weight. The findings, by Yorkshire Water, aims to highlight the health benefits of staying well-hydrated. According to medical research, by increasing water intake by 1.5 litres a day, over the course of one year this could burn up to an extra 17,400 calories, equating to a weight loss of approximately five pounds. This is because when the body is well-hydrated toxins are effectively eliminated from the body, which would otherwise potentially cause weight gain or become a barrier to weight loss. Lynn George, clinical dietetic manager at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Water is one of the best fluids to drink as it is 100 per cent fluid and does not contain sugar, calories, caffeine, additives or acid which can be found in other fluids.”

BACK 50 years ago, in February 1966, a young Christopher Knowles-Fitton from Appletreewick had just organised a 240-mile motor rally. The annual Airedale and Pennine Motor Club’s Snowdrop Rally took in the Yorkshire Dales and Lancashire and in ‘66 was won for the third time by international rally driver, David Pollard. Mr Pollard, from Bingley won the event in a Hillman Rally Imp. Mr Knowles-Fitton and his navigator, Christopher Nash, from Harrogate, had won the rally the year before and in 66 competed again in a Morris Cooper S. The same Mr Knowles-Fitton went on to become leader of Craven District Council until he moved down south last year. Interestingly, in his last years as council leader, he spent a lot of time, including making fact-finding trips abroad, trying to bring Rally GB to Yorkshire.

THE life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns, will be celebrated in Skipton on Saturday. To mark the bard’s birthday, the Three Links Club is holding a Burns’ Night event - with a piper and a haggis and neeps supper. And, in line with tradition, there will be an official address to the haggis. There will even be some Scottish Highland dancing for those with enough energy. Doors open at 7.30pm and admission is £2.50.