SCARBOROUGH is bracing itself for the return of winter’s icy grip tomorrow with weather forecasters predicting more snow.

Nick West, North Yorkshire County Council’s area manager for highways and transportation, said that according to a recent forecast it was likely to turn colder tonight and early tomorrow morning.

He added: “A band of rain will cross the region but it will turn to snow as it clears away, mainly, but not exclusively, over higher ground giving a covering of snow in places but also some very icy conditions.

Read more at ScarboroughEveningNews.co.uk

SCARBOROUGH Lions have brought some festive cheer to the town thanks to their annual Santa sleigh tour.

The club are embarking on a journey right across the town in the run up to Christmas, raising money for local charities and smiles from local people in the process.

After encountering some difficulty with the snow and ice in Burniston and Cloughton, the club enjoyed a good day at Proudfoot’s, in Newby, and treasurer Roy Chambers said he was delighted with the response to the cause.

He said: “So far the people of Scarborough have been welcoming and generous and everyone joins in.

“Rudolph and Santa always attracts people and the music has brought some festive cheer.”

Mr Chambers said the club was on track to beat the £5,600 it raised last year and would be holding a meeting to discuss which charities and organisations will receive the donations.

He added: “We are always hoping to beat last year’s figure, especially as the years go on, there are more and more people who are in need of our help.

“Our volunteers really enjoy themselves with this fundraising event; there is a lot of satisfaction and fun to be had and they are putting something back into the community.”

The sleigh will be in Scalby village tonight and will also make appearances tomorrow at Proudfoots, Eastfield; Friday at Irton, Crossgates and Seamer; Saturday, Sainsbury’s; December 20, Proudfoots, Seamer; December 21 Morrisons; December 22, Morrisons and December 23, Sainsbury’s.

Read more at ScarboroughEveningNews.co.uk

THE ANNUAL Castle Ward Christmas lights competition is underway.

Residents in the area have until Friday to enter the competition, ahead of independent judging, which will take place on December 20.

The competition is one of the most popular in the Scarborough area, with the historic old town lighting up every year thanks to the efforts of residents.

Prizes will be given for the best decorated street window, best decorated house or property, best decorated street and best decorated block.

Cash prizes and certificates are on offer to the winners, with the competition once again being sponsored by Yorkshire Coast Homes.

Read more at ScarboroughEveningNews.co.uk

Via Scarborough Evening News

PLANS are in place to help drive business in to Scarborough’s historic indoor market this Christmas.

In a move to boost trade at the Market Hall a host of activities have been lined up throughout December to pull in customers.

Scarborough’s newly appointed Investment Manager Nick Taylor is pushing the scheme, which he plans to expand in to the long term.

He said: “Each stall down there is a local enterprise, and at times like this we need to be encouraging local enterprise.

“We want to encourage the traders down there, and we also want to encourage people to go down to the Market Hall and shop local.

“The Market Hall and Vaults are a gem of a place and we need to make sure people know what they have right on their doorstep.

“We have got all sorts of things going on over Christmas which will hopefully attract some new customers.”

Activities lined up in the run up to Christmas include carol singing every Saturday throughout December. A Christmas choir will visit the Market Hall at 11am every Saturday before going in to the Market Vaults at 1pm. Everyone is invited to join in the singing, and stall holders will be joining in the sing song.

Plans are also in place for a cookery demonstration with Yorkshire Coast College, lined up for December 11. Students and lecturers will be visiting the Market Hall to show people how to cook various things over Christmas using produce from the Market.

The cafe within the Market Hall has also been extended so people can spent more time

Efforts are also in place to create an customer database, so weekly newsletters, featuring offers and news can be emailed to local shoppers.

To push the idea Mr Taylor has organised a Christmas E Draw, in which people leave their names and email addresses and are entered in to a draw to win one of more than 50 prizes, all sourced from the Market.

The bid to drive business is not just for Christmas though, as a scheme is being put together to put the Market Hall on the shopping map long term.

Mr Taylor said: “It is all about encouraging local enterprise. The Market Hall is just as important as the business park as it is all about promoting local businesses.

“We are not just trying to get customers down to the Market we want to get new businesses down there too and make it a thriving hub of trade.

“We need to be encouraging shoppers to visit that part of town more.

“One idea we have had it to hold a regular outdoor farmers market in the area, possibly St Helen’s Square, which will help attract people to the area.

“Another idea is to move the Shrove Tuesday celebrations down to the market too.

“We are investigating a lot of possibilities, but one thing is for certain the Market Hall is a key place for us in terms of driving investment.

“What has happened is no one has really said anything about the market for a while and it has almost become forgotten. We need to speak up for it, let people know what it offers and what a great asset it is to local people.”

Father Christmas has been making his annual pilgrimage to Boyes for at least 100 years and millions of children and their parents have visited the grotto during that time. Why not get in the Christmas spirit and join the fun and festivities as Father Christmas arrives in Scarborough for another year. He arrives on the West Pier at 11am on Saturday 13th November. The parade will then lead him through Scarborough Town centre, up St Thomas Street and then back down Queen Street where he will take up his annual residency at Boyes.

Sat 13 Nov 2010 11:00 to 13:00