THE vital role rural areas like North Yorkshire must play in energising the Northern Powerhouse has been recognised.

Talks have taken place between the recently appointed Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry, and the Leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Carl Les.

Mr Berry said afterwards: “The Northern Powerhouse is about economic growth and creating jobs. Rural areas have a vital role to play.

“North Yorkshire is exemplified by its expanding rural businesses, such as Tennants Auctioneers, now one of the leading auction venues in the country, who have just made a major investment in the area. The county is proof that northern businesses are at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse.”

Cllr Les said: “I highlighted the strengths of the North Yorkshire economy to the Northern Powerhouse, such as the investments in potash, agri-tech, the visitor economy and our investment in high-speed broadband.

“We discussed the strong north-south transport connections that already exist through the region and the importance on now establishing better east-west connections."