SCOUTS AND GUIDES GROUP - CUBS: Are now back in full swing under new leadership - Carolyn Gemson and Pauline and Martyn Poytress. Meetings are 5.30pm to 6.45pm on Wednesdays

Brownies meetings have now been moved to Monday nights 5.15pm to 6.45pm.

September 200 Club winners were: Mrs Val Calvert, Mrs Sue Broughton, Mrs E Smith, Mrs Val Hedges, Mrs Cynthia Mortimer and Mrs Sandra Brotchie.

Future event: Saturday, November 30 - Annual Bazaar in Eckington Village Hall at 2pm.

For more information please contact Geoff Ranstead on 01386 750855.

CRICKET CLUB: The Cricket Club AGM will be held on Thursday, November 21, 8pm at The Bell Inn. Everyone is welcome to attend.

200 Club September winners were - J Barrett, S Taylor, A Phillips and D Langdon.

PARISH COUNCIL: The parish council held an extraordinary meeting on October 11 to consider co-option to the vacancy for a councillor. Mr John Brazier was duly proposed, and as there were no further nominations, he was co-opted to the council until the parish council elections in May, 2003.

Bus Route: The meeting was also informed that Worcester County Council was again reviewing the route of the Eckington-Worcester bus service and had written to the householders along the service road in Tewkesbury Road informing them that it was considering using the service road for turning buses. The bus stop would remain outside the Bell.

Footpath alongside B4080 Pershore Road: The gated footpath behind the hedge had been weed sprayed, and strimmed. It was agreed that the inside of the hedge would also be cut.

Housing development, Pershore Road: The appeal had been attended by a parish council representative and it was anticipated that the results of the appeal would be made public in mid November.

Best Kept Village 2002: Eckington was awarded a Certificate of Merit. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard in keeping their front gardens looking beautiful and for everyone's efforts in keeping the village litter-free and the churchyard and cemetery tidy.

New Recreation Centre: With a view to kick-starting the fund-raising for this project, three events are planned for the end of this year. Saturday, November 2 - A Table Top Sale will be held in the village hall, 2-4pm; Friday, November 29 - Disco Party Night, 8pm to midnight at The Bell Inn; Saturday, December 7 - Children's Christmas Party for ages 2-8 years at the village hall. For more information on any of these events phone Sandra on 01386 750073.

Tewkesbury Road Footpath: The White family were delighted to hear this week that the footpath will indeed go ahead and should be completed by next spring. The family would like to extend thanks to everyone who wrote a letter in support of the path and look forward to much safer walks to and from school next year.