WORK begins next week to breathe new life into a former Barclays Bank, which closed amid controversy last year.

The dales community of Reeth is hoping for more youth involvement when it takes an important step towards its own community office next week.

Leyburn and Hawes in Wensleydale already boast their own "one-stop shops", which include facilities for paying council tax and rent bills, as well as access to the Internet and information for tourists.

Reeth hopes to be next on the network, rejuvenating the Barclays building, which was closed as part of a review of the bank's provincial operations.

Barclays is hoping to make amends by offering its offices for sale to Richmondshire District Council at "an advantageous price".

The community has since been invited to help find the money to cover the cost - and a board of trustees meets for the first time on Friday, June 15, to begin coordinating bids for grants.

Members include Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Business Association chairman Richard Good, district councillors Raymond Alderson and James Kendall, and Harold Brown, of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The Swaledale Festival's Elizabeth Sutherland, European funding advisor Elizabeth Smith, retired lecturer Keith Allan, parish councillor Bob Gale and secretary Joan Graveson are also on the board.

However, there is still room for two more around the table and the organisation, to be known as Hudson House Ltd, is hoping both seats will be taken by people aged between 18 and 25, who will be able to bring a youthful perspective to the meetings.

"It is hoped the project will include quite a bit for young people from Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, including a youth centre, and, although we may think we know what they would like, I suspect we may not," said acting chairman Mr Good.

"The youth representatives won't need qualifications - just ideas and enthusiasm and perhaps a working knowledge of computer technology. Whatever they bring, we need them to play a full and active role."

The objective is to have to first phase of the community office, which will include moves towards affordable housing, open by next spring.

Anyone interested in filling the two remaining seats on the Hudson House board can contact (01748) 884353