PICKERING folk are getting into the party spirit with the launch of a programme of events for the town's forthcoming carnival.

The programme contains a history of the town, its carnivals, photographs and a full list of events for the event, which takes place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 14-16.

Mayor of Pickering Coun Bill McCall said: "I am fully supportive of the carnival, I think it's a great thing. It brings together the people of Pickering and it's a way of bettering the community spirit."

Coun McCall added that over 200 different organisations had been invited to attend a community church service at Pickering Parish Church on the Sunday.

Also at the programme launch was events co-ordinator Natalie Warriner and Ryedale MP John Greenway.

Natalie thanked the District Council and local businesses for all their help with putting the programme and carnival together and said the Pickering Community Events Group was "working for the good of the town."

PICTURE: Launch - Ryedale MP John Greenway helps launch the Pickering events programme at the town's tourist information office with the Pickering Community Events Group team, from left, Neil Armstrong, Julie O'Hare, Linda Cowling and Natalie Warriner