TRADERS and business organisations have raised hundreds of pounds to provide dropped kerbs to aid disabled and wheelchair visitors to their market town.

The money has been topped up by a substantial donation from the Motorcycle Action Group, bringing the total raised to £1,225.

North Yorkshire County Council's highways department, which had previously said it had no funds for the work, has now been able to allocate £5,000, said town clerk John Dale.

As a result of the fundraising and the county authority cash, which will be boosted by a grant from Helmsley Town Council, seven dropped kerbs will be laid in the town.

l Town council chairman, Geoff Nicholson, has been nominated for one of the four parish council places on the new Ryedale area committee, run by North Yorkshire County Council, as part of the re-structuring of the authority