EGHAM Hythe and Thorpe county councillor, Yvonna Lay successfully retained her seat at last night's (June)(4) county council elections.

The Conservative councillor retained her seat comprehensively winning 1797 votes, her nearest rival, UKIP's Steve Gynn with 924.

THE Thorpe Players are breaking new ground with their next production.

Not only is it an European premiere, but it also features the first time the group has had a mother and daughter acting the roles of mother and daughter.

Local drama group Thorpe Players is breaking new ground with their next production. Not only is it an European premiere, but it features a mother and daughter acting the roles of mother and daughter. Dee and Angie Bews have both been members for many years, but this is the first time that they have acted together and they are both thrilled to be playing Mrs Bennet and her daughter Lizzie in a new adaptation of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice.

Director Sharon Young "searched for a version of the story that kept the truth of the book, and this one by Jon Jory does just that. I am excited and nervous at staging such a well-known and well-loved classic, but I know my cast will meet the challenge and they and the audience will enjoy the humour and charm of the play." Thorpe Village Hall is an old barn, and just right for this show, which takes place from Wednesday 10th to Saturday 13th June at 8pm. Tickets are £9 and can be booked on 07923 583295.

Carve Her Name with Pride is one of the all-time classic war movies, starring Virginia McKenna as Violet Szabo. Local resident, Margaret Robinson, has kept the original designs for this film that were done by her late husband Bernard, and they will on display for the first time at The Chertsey Hall on Sunday 17th May.

There will also be an illustrated exploration of the work of Special Operations Executive and agents such as Szabo and Odette Sansom by Dr. Mark Baldwin, who has had access to recently released information. The SOE trained over 9000 agents between 1940 and 1946, many in undisclosed locations in Surrey and Middlesex, and they worked not just in Europe, but in the Far East and Africa. Doors open at 7.00pm and the tickets for this joint event cost £10 and are bookable on 01483 811923 or on the door.

On April 9, which is Maundy Thursday, Bishop Christopher, Bishop of Guildford Diocese will be visiting St. Mary's Church, Thorpe, to lead the worship.

He will also re-enact the Last Supper which traditionally takes place on this day. The service will start at 8pm, timed in the evening so that people who work have a chance to attend. Bishop Christopher has visited the church before, but not on such a significant day.

Firefighters attended a crash on Sunday (15) on the clockwise M25 near junction 12 at Thorpe at about 9.45pm.

Neither driver of the two cars involved in the minor shunt was hurt. There was a slight delay to traffic while the scene was cleared.

A Business Watch scheme is being set up to try and prevent burglaries and thefts on the Thorpe Industrial Estate.

Businesses on the estate are working in conjunction with police to agree counter measures to prospective thefts, including the possible installation of CCTV at the site entrance.

Thorpe Players next dramatic event sees the premiere of not one, but two new plays, both by local authors. "Another Sunday and Sweet FA" is by Chertsey's own Terry Pattinson and describes the hypocrisy behind some football matches. The second play is by KK Verrain, who has written for the group before, and is a fast paced comedy of wedding receptions called "Always the Bridesmaid". The evening will be completed by a performance of "After Liverpool" by James Saunders, which has won the Players two awards in the recent months. This all takes place at Thorpe Village Hall on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March at 8pm. Tickets are just £7 from 07923 583295 or on the door.

Firefighters doused the flames after a car engine caught fire on Friday March 6 on the southbound M3 near junction two at Thorpe at about 8.55am.

No-one was hurt in the blaze.

Halliford Artists holds its next meeting on Tuesday (17) at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, Lower Sunbury, at 7.30pm.

For more information, call 01932 240278.