ENVIRONMENT chiefs are investigating potentially contaminated land in the vast rural area of Ryedale.

Members of Ryedale District Council were told by environmental health officer Paul Crossley that the council had to meet new regulations under the Environmental Protection Act, and to publish a strategy for dealing with it.

As part of the work, the council has bought digital land use data, which has identified 67 categories of potentially contaminated land use from the mid-19th Century to the present.

Mr Crossley said a North Yorkshire Contaminated Land Liaison Group has been set up to provide support and exchange information.

He said former quarry works, railway lines and timber yards were among the potential problem areas.