GROUPS are pressing ahead with ambitious plans to herald the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta in a market town after securing grants.

Thirsk Rotary Club, which is organising an event expected to draw more than 4,000 people from across Yorkshire and the North East to the town's racecourse in June, and Thirsk-based charity Rural Arts, said they aimed to provide a fitting fanfare for the milestone.

Following extensive work by community stalwart David Tucker to highlight the significance of the anniversary, the groups have produced a programme to celebrate role of the Baron of Thirsk, William de Mowbray, in creating the document, which became a cornerstone of the British constitution.

Rural Arts has received a £5,000 grant from the national Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee and will work alongside English Heritage, North Yorkshire Records Archive and Thirsk Museum to encourage people to learn more about the Magna Carta and why it is relevant to people today.

Its director, Angela Hall, said it would host community art workshops and an exhibition, including a reproduction of the document.

Rural Arts' art club will make banners, depicting historical and modern interpretations of the Magna Carta, to be displayed in the town ahead of the racecourse event, traders in the town will dress their shop windows and primary school teachers will attend workshops, providing inspiration for lessons on the document.

As part of the events, the Mayor of Thirsk, Councillor Janet Watson, will receive a sheepskin parchment facsimile of the charter from the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd on March 5 at Castlegarth, the site of Thirsk Castle, which was destroyed in 1322.

After town councillors agreed to provide £1,000 towards the staging of the celebrations and £500 towards replacing town entrance signs with ones highlighting its Magna Carta links, Thirsk Rotary said it had

booked groups of minstrels as sideshows to an array of activities at the racecourse on Saturday, June 13, from 10am to 4pm.

The event will include a medieval warfare re-enactment, shows on contemporary fashion, surgery and justice, falconry displays, coin-making workshops, archery and other entertainments, such as medieval music, jugglers and jesters, alongside stalls for trade, craft and voluntary groups.

Entry charges will be announced next month, when tickets will become available to pre-book.

The club said proceeds from the event would go to Herriot Hospice Homecare, Thirsk Community Care, Thirsk Clock and other local causes.

To make suggestions about the event or book a stall email magnacarta800thirsk@yahoo.co.uk