A TASK force of long-term unemployed people has been set up to help parish councils with minor maintenance jobs.

The scheme, which is being run by North Yorkshire County Council's employment training services, involves 30 unemployed people.

Parish councils and other community groups can make use of a team of up to ten people for as little as £150 a day. The team is overseen by a supervisor and will be available for jobs such as tidying up village greens or grass cutting.

The team operates from Malton, and is available for jobs anywhere in the county, but will initially concentrate on a 30 to 40 mile radius.

For details, call (01653) 698925.