A PROJECT to improve the grounds of North Yorkshire County Council's Northallerton headquarters has taken a step forward.

The chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, Roy Wilson, yesterday completed the ceremonial topping up of a large ornamental pond in front of the Grade ll-listed County Hall.

The work has been backed by a grant of more than £12,000 from Yorventure, which is supported by the Northallerton waste management company, Yorwaste.

It is hoped that the latest improvements will attract the public to use the grounds for "quiet reflection".

The improvements have included creating larger formal bedding schemes, walkways, seating arrangements and crocus planting for next spring.

A county council spokesman said it was hoped that further improvements to the historic building would be carried out in the near future.

He said: "It is an on-going process. There has been substantial work done already with benches and such like in the grounds of County Hall, particularly around the two large ponds.

"There will be more paths to go in at some stage as well, but this isn't being funded by the county council and we are relying on grants from Yorventure to carry on doing this work.

"It's a case of it being a long term development plan."

One of the key features of the work was the repairs made to one of the ornamental ponds, originally created during the Second World War to provide a large store of water on site in case of bombing.

Coun Wilson said: "The work which has been completed thanks to a grant from Yorventure creates a very pleasant environment for the many visitors to the authority's headquarters and the staff."

Managing director of Yorwaste, Steve Grieve, said: "As a Northallerton company, we were delighted to provide Landfill Tax funding to improve the grounds at County Hall.

"I'm sure the grounds will be enjoyed by staff and visitors alike."