A RYEDALE town is going through an economic boom which is helping to fill several vacant properties.

Malton's flourishing pros-pects are set to receive a further boost with the planned refurbishment of key empty business properties in the town centre.

The turnaround comes a year after business leaders in the town were expressing fears that the foot-and-mouth disease crisis would damage its future prospects.

Ryedale District Council's head of economic and leisure services, Andrew Leeming, said the town's fortunes had turned around significantly since last year.

"Generally, things are looking up," he said. "We have had a number of new businesses open up and there are also existing businesses which have expanded or which want to expand.

"We are always looking at ways of improving the town. An economic analysis of the town was carried out last year, and we are now acting on the recommendations which were made.