SOULFUL 80s chart-topper, Paul Young, best known for the hits Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home), Come Back And Stay, Everytime You Go Away, Love Of The Common People, and of course as one of the vocalists on Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas.

In 2007 he came close to winning ITVs Hell’s Kitchen series. Since then he has split his time between touring with his Tex-Mex band Los Pacaminos and performing solo at 80s festivals. In 2016 he also released his first new album in ten years ‘Good Thing’, a collection of overlooked soul covers.

Paul is performing at Barrow’s The Forum on Tuesday (February 13, 7.30pm).

Box office 01228-820000.

Tickets £25.

THE Witches – based on the fantastic story by Roald Dahl and performed by Stage Struck Theatre takes place from tonight to Saturday (February 8-10, 7.30pm), with a Saturday matinee at 2pm. The story features the experiences of a brave young boy and his Norwegian grandmother in a world where child-hating evil witches secretly exist. Dare you go along? You never know one could be sitting just next to you! On stage at The Grand, Lancaster.

Box office 01524-64695.

Tickets £12; concessions £10.

DARK Skies Festival, organised by the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks, takes place from tomorrow (February 9) to February 25, at various venues in the region. Events include a stargazing session with Kendal astronomer Stuart Atkinson, with tapas and mulled wine to follow; a dark sky print workshop with Helen Payton; a Star Bike Trail for kids as well as a women’s night cycle ride from Hawes.

Go to www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk for programme of events.

WALKING For Health – if you feel like taking a walk and feeling a little fitter then joining a local walking group is the ideal way to do it. Experts say that just 10 minutes brisk walk daily has many health advantages.  Every Thursday (11am) the Grange walk is a way of improving people’s health with gentle exercise in the fresh air. Meet at Age UK South Lakeland, Station Square, Grange-over-Sands. Also, Cartmel’s Walking For Health meet every Tuesday (10.45am) at the entrance to the racecourse.

For further info or to find a group near to you, go to www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/

VALENTINES Dinner – enjoy a sumptuous gourmet dinner in the elegant surroundings of Muncaster Castle, at Ravenglass, on Friday (February 16, 7.30pm). Guests will meet in the Great Hall for a champagne reception followed by a top-flight four course dinner at your private table, served either in the Drawing Room or the Family Dining Room. Also included is general entry for the day to Muncaster’s Gardens and Hawk and Owl Centre (from 11am) with the Sky Hunters bird of prey display at 1.30pm.

So, if you’re feeling rather romantic and fancy winning a few brownie points with your other half, then book this event as tables are restricted.

Booking required, go to www.muncaster.co.uk/

Tickets £90 each.

CAST Theatre Company return to Barrow’s The Forum with performances of Rent the Musical! Loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It tells the story of a group of impoverished, young artists struggling to survive and create a life in New York City’s East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV and Aids.

The show deals with a variety of themes such as homelessness, drug addiction, love, sexuality, disease and death. Playing tonight and tomorrow (February 8 & 9, 7.30pm).

Box office 01228-820000.

Tickets £10; concessions £9.