IT WAS an inspired choice of title for the latest Bank Holiday exhibition held at St Mary's, Thirsk, in York diocese. "We have mounted a variety of Bank Holiday exhibitions for over 12 years now," their media officer, Julia Smith, says about their latest ex­hibition, "Dolly Mixtures". "As usual, the con­grega­tion and wider com­munity have turned out cupboards and drawers to provide a wonderful variety of exhibits."

And this year they are displaying no fewer than 237 dolls of all types, ages, and sizes. "We have every­thing from exquisite china dolls to charity-shop rescues," Ms Smith says. "We have hand-made ones, hand-knitted ones, much-loved baby dolls from the '30s and '40s, fashion dolls, Russian dolls, even paper dolls, and - to bring things right up to date - a doll holding a mobile phone to her ear."

Thirsk is a well-known town. It attracts many visitors and tourists, not least because it is the town where James Herriot, the vet and novelist, spent his working life. "We even have a doll owned by James Herriot's granddaughter," Ms Smith says. "Sadly, this one has no hands, as they were chewed off by the dog."