NATIONAL park chiefs have confirmed that Bainbridge has beaten Hawes to be home to a new northern base in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has outgrown the old headmaster's house in the village, and was looking for room for new offices in the area.

Brunt Acres Industrial Estate in nearby Hawes emerged as a rival front runner but at a full meeting of the authority, members decided to remain in Bainbridge .

Staff will move into the North Yorkshire County Council depot in the village within the next two years.

"This is exciting news which will see this authority develop a brownfield site which will add to the conservation area of Bainbridge," said the authority's chairman, Steve Macare.

"Both the Bainbridge and Hawes sites would have been ideal but members considered had we chosen to go ahead with Hawes, the authority would have taken land which could be used by a new business coming into the area and, by so doing, limit the options for new business development in the national park."

Chief executive David Butterworth added: "Any decision between the two sites was always going to be close.

"The authority has listened to concerns over a move to Hawes alongside the pros and cons of both sites.

"In doing so the authority has agreed on a location that will serve the needs of the authority and the public for many years to come, while continuing to contribute to the local economies of both Bainbridge and Askrigg," he said.