MILLENNIUM celebrations may be over for most of us, but villagers in Pool-in-Wharfedale are still marking the momentus occasion.

Villagers and pupils from Pool School this week planted five trees of different varieties in Pool's recreation ground to commemorate the millennium.

The chairman of the now defunct Pool Millennium Committee, Ted Joce, said the money was left over from a proposed village millennium party on New Year's Eve, 1999, which never got off the ground due to lack of community support.

"We collected the money for that. But because it never got off the ground we had about £200 in the bank which was just sittingt there, so we decided that we should plant five trees, which include oak, ash and rowan amongst others, as a lasting reminder," said Mr Joce.

"We were too late to plant them early last year, so we've had to do it now. I don't think we're too late though, the millennium celebrations are still fresh in people's minds.

"I hope that by encouraging youngsters to help plant them, they will feel that they part own them and respect them in later years, because we do sometimes have a problem with vandalism in that area."

l Pictured above with pupils from Pool C of E School at the tree planting are, from left to right: Steve Wilkinson, Dave Russell, Connie Fenwick, chairman of Pool Sports and Social Club; Linda Hodson, head teacher, and Dr John Metcalfe, recreation ground secretary (holding the sapling). (S)