A scheme to create a one-stop shop providing community services in rural areas will soon reach fruition.

The community office project in Kirkbymoorside, to help those in northern Ryedale, is just weeks away from opening, with information and services on offer for people in the town and surrounding villages.

The facility has been built in the centre of the town to provide a local base for a range of services.

The chairman of the community office trust, Councillor Gary Hobbs, said there would be a variety of help on offer from the premises.

He said: "North Yorkshire Police will use some of the space upstairs for an officer, and we have also had strong interest from several organisations.

"It is going to include space for Ryedale District Council, which will use it as an area office once a week.

"There will be a tourism function, with leaflets and information available, as well as five computers for members of the public to have Internet access."

Coun Hobbs said he was confident that the facility would be a boost to the community.

"Groups which have already expressed a strong interest include the Employment Service, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Ryedale Voluntary Action, the careers' service, and the couple counselling service, Relate.

"I think it is going to be of great benefit to the people of Kirkbymoorside and the villages that feed into it."

He said: "A lot of money has gone into this, with £112,000 for the full conversion and £150,000 for three years' running costs."