A RURAL youth project has been given more than £110,000 by Children in Need.

Thirsk Clock youth project will get £112,569 over three years from the BBC's national charity.

It will allow the centre, in Thirsk Market Place, to fund the salary of another full-time advisor.

Part of the grant will also go towards the centre's running costs.

Centre manager Abigail Homer McGhie said: "We are absolutely thrilled to receive the Children In Need grant.

"It will make a huge difference to Thirsk Clock, because we will now be able to employ a new member of staff.

"They will be specifically employed to help young people with behavioural issues and to continue our work in the community."

Thirsk Clock was set up in 2002 after public support was shown for a youth centre.

Several groups, including Thirsk Community Education and Churches Together, were involved.

It launched several services for youngsters in Thirsk and the surrounding villages, including a drop-in cafe and an advice and counselling service.

Police have backed the scheme and feel it provides a useful service. Last year, the project failed in a highly unpopular £300,000 attempt to move to larger premises.

Critics were unhappy at the Clock's plan to move to the former Fourways guesthouse, just off the town centre.

The scheme fell through when a major backer pulled out its 50 per cent share of the funding.

The Clock spent the funding it had secured on improving its Market Place base and extending services.

The Children In Need charity raised more than £31m nationally last year.

So far, the charity's organisers have divided £15m between nearly 800 groups around the country to help improve the lives of children.

Radio York presenter Elly Fiorentini handed over the cheque to the youth project.

She said: "People think of the Children in Need TV show as a national appeal.

"But it is fantastic that people can see that the money raised is being put back into North Yorkshire."