AUTUMN FAIR: A fair will be held at Eckington First School, on Wednesday, December 14 in the school hall at 2pm including games, crafts, cakes and tombola. Most items are made by the children and stalls will be manned by the children.

THURSDAY CLUB: On November 10 at 2.15pm in the village hall. The speaker this month is Mr Mike Edwards, Evesham poet. On November 24 the last outing for this year is to Bath for Christmas shopping. The cost of the coach is £8, leaving Eckington at 9.30am.

Non-members are welcome at both events. Contact Janet on 750066 or Margaret on 750316 for more information.

BRAIN OF ECKINGTON: Eckington Under-fives are inviting people to join them for their annual quiz on Saturday, November 12, 7.30pm at the village hall. Entry is £20 per team (maximum four people), to include supper. Tickets are available from Georgina Forson on 750426 or Karen Sagar on 750401.

FRIENDS OF ECKINGTON SCHOOL: Foes members will be carol singing on December 16, meeting at 7pm outside The Bell in Eckington. Proceeds will be going to the Joss Parkes Hope Trust.

PARISH COUNCIL: Among topics discussed at the latest meeting were:

Highways: Highways issues are continuing to give cause for concern, and the council continues to pursue, with the highways authority, a long-term maintenance programme. The county council has acknowledged local concerns, and has promised to pay special attention to Hacketts Lane, Upper End and New Road to ensure that all defects to safety intervention levels are repaired to keep the roads as safe as possible.

The council is exploring the possible provision of planters at the entrances to the village in Pershore Road and Tewkesbury Road. An application for a licence to install planters has been made.

The parish council is exploring with highways and the school whether any steps can be taken to improve the safety of pupils walking to and from school.

Eckington Cemetery: The burial fees for Eckington Cemetery have been reviewed, and the revised fees will come into effect from January 1. Details of the fees are available from the clerk, and are also sited on the parish council notice board and the cemetery notice board.

The next parish council meeting will be next Tuesday in the village hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, and there is the opportunity of raising any issues or concerns direct with the council during the open forum, which begins at 7.30pm.

PROMISES AUCTION: An auction of promises is being held by the Friends of Eckington School on Friday, November 18 at 8pm in The Bell. The £4 entry includes wine and food. Catalogues are available from the school office, Foes members or Liz on 751613.

FIREWORK PARTY: The Eckington bonfire and firework display is on Saturday at 6.30pm. People are asked not to bring sparklers, instead glow sticks and bands will be available. Garden rubbish and wood will be collected on Saturday for the village bonfire. Anyone who would like a collection from their property on the Saturday morning should add their name to the list in the village store in the week prior to the collection. The charge for this doorstep service is small loads £2.50, big loads £5.

Foes members will be serving pancakes with lemon and sugar or chocolate sauce at £1.

GUIDE HONOURED: Eckington Guide Stephanie Bailey has been chosen to represent the area at the International Guide Camp and Convention in Mexico. Stephanie flies out on December 27 with other Guides from the UK.

BOOK CLUB: On Friday, November 11, Nils Wilkes has agreed to join members in a discussion of his book A History of Eckington. For information call Jay on 750686 or Karen on 750401.

ECKINGTON SCHOOL: The school grounds are again being used as a meeting point during the evenings resulting in beer cans, broken glass and other litter being left around the grounds. In addition several lots of dog mess have had to be removed from the field, causing health and safety fears for the children. Anyone who sees anyone using the school grounds out of hours should notify the police and also Mrs Millward at school on 750666.

CRICKET CLUB: The AGM will be held at The Bell on Thursday, November 24 at 8pm.