ONE has to marvel at the confidence of the driver who took a Fiat Panda across rough ground to the foothills of Ingleborough (pictured). My colleague, who took the picture as she walked along Fell Lane to the peak, said the presence of the abandoned vehicle sparked off a lively debate between her fellow walkers. One decided it was outrageous that a scrapped car be left in such a lovely spot in the Yorkshire Dales National Park , while another took a modernist view and thought it made an interesting contrast in the landscape and would eventually rot into its surroundings. My reporter colleague also recalled how she had once done a story about a town's police force in the South which had been promised a four-wheel drive vehicle and it had turned out to be a Fiat Panda - the officers actually ended up liking it despite its size and the Panda Panda car remained a running joke for ages.

ON her way back down to Hawes Road she took a diversion to investigate the cave (pictured) in Storrs Common, just off the footpath. A fascinating cave and so accessible - she wondered how many peaks walkers actually realised such a gem was so close.

THE foyer of Skipton Town Hall has been given a makeover and the old donated oil paintings of impossibly large farm animals (assorted) on the main stairway, belonging to the town council, have been taken down and placed into storage. The murals of the town crest, revealed when the old plaster was taken down, have been saved, given a spruce up and now float rather oddly in the midst of the newly painted plaster. Which sort of begs the question - would they have been better off painted over seeing as they are only a very small part of what originally included a more intricate decoration?

CHILDREN at Skipton's Greatwood Primary School elected their own prime minister - Jamie - as part of an election workshop. The children were given a fascinating insight into how government works and how a prime minister is elected. They were then split into political parties - called Gold, Silver, Bronze and Platinum, all with their own manifestos. And the same as real life politics, each party's manifestos were very different, with one suggesting the school day be changed to 9am to 5pm. The school set up its own House of Commons and debated some key points, under the watchful eye of Prime Minister Jamie. Apparently, it was a heated discussion. Some councillors and very possibly politicians of the future.

CRAVEN is busy embracing Europe it seems as excitement mounts for the very first Skiptoberfest. The German style Oktoberfest will be held at the town hall on the weekend of October 21 and October 22 and will include German beer, served in steins, bratwurst and pretzels and of course, an Oompah Band. But what seems to have got people going most of all is that there will be prizes for the best dressed. So, get those Lederhosen out and head for the town hall next month. More details from the website: skiptoberfest.com.

MALHAMDALE Show has just been held, and in good weather, for a change. Back in 1967, it was marking its 'coming of age' 21st annual event. 18 year old Irene Moorhouse, of Bell Busk, was crowned show princess and added a 'touch of glamour' to the showfield, as she and her retinue were ferried about in a flower bedecked Land Rover, said the Craven Herald. Entries to the various classes were up on the year before, at 1,600, and highlights included a bonny baby competition and a Land Rover handling competition.

THERE is an ongoing campaign instigated by the headteacher of Skipton Girls High School to have a 20mph speed limit brought in on Gargrave Road, to increase safety for the students of the three secondary schools and two primary schools. Back in 1967, it was also a subject very much on the mind of the Skipton Road Safety Committee. Members believed school buses, both double and single deckers, dropping off and collecting children at Skipton Girls, Ermysted's and the then Aireville Secondary, were causing a traffic hazard. Buses were reversing into residential roads, causing all sorts of danger, and something had to be done, agreed the committee, which had been presented with photographic evidence. Consideration was given to asking the schools involved to open up areas at their entrances to allow the buses to enter and turn around, and also the creation of a turning space close to the entrance of Aireville. The owner of one of the bus operators at the meeting said it would be impossible for a double decker to turn in such a tight spot and had himself experimented by driving a double decker up Raikeswood Drive and Salisbury Street, where he dropped the children off, and avoided the top end of Gargrave Road. Unfortunately, he had struggled to get from Raikeswood Drive into Salisbury Street, and had succeeded in completely blocking the road. He still proposed his idea however, believing it could at least be tried out in the summer, when the side roads were clear of snow. The committee agreed to write to the county council to see what could be done.