Ten engraved stones are to be erected around Sutton to mark the new millennium.

The stones are to be placed at each of the ten entrances to the South Craven village. Supplying the stones is the village's conservation group. Nearly half the stones have been found sponsors and the group is now looking for further sponsorship for the remaining stones.

A millennium wood is also to be planted as part of the village's celebrations of the big occasion. The wood, also being organised by the village's conservation group, will be planted on land off West Lane. Anyone wanting to sponsor a stone or a tree should contact Tom Wilkinson on 01535 632282.

Sutton beacon is to be lit on New Year's eve to mark the turn of the millennium. The beacon will be one of 21,000 such monuments across the country to be lit at midnight.

It has been organised by Sutton's conservation group.

Churchgoers in Riddlesden are building up to the new millennium with their own version of the 'advent' calendar.

Every week until the year 2000, the congregation at Riddlesden United Reformed Church in Bar Lane will open a window on their calendar which is on display in the church. The picture or symbol behind each window will help tell the story of the Christian church over the last 2,000 years.

Accompanying the calendar is a book written by Donald Hilton, who is now retired. He is a former minister and was National Education Secretary of the Congregational Church, moderator of the Yorkshire region of the United Reformed Church, and in 1993/94 was the moderator of the general assembly of the United Reformed Church

The book explains the story behind each symbol which will be revealed on the calendar.

Church secretary Brian Robertshaw thinks the calendar will generate a lot of interest, particularly among the younger members of the congregation.

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