PLANS for a £2.3m forest visitor centre designed to be a major tourist attraction have been given the go-ahead.

The centre, in Dalby Forest, north of Pickering, will be built from local timber and recycled stone.

It will feature exhibitions and displays, as well as having a restaurant, conference room, toilets, shop, observatory domes and a play area.

Local officials hope the new facilities will bring in more visitors and boost the area's economy.

The centre, which is being built as a partnership between Ryedale District Council and the Forestry Commission, is the latest phase of a £4.3m redevelopment of visitor facilities in the forest.

The courtyard at Low Dalby has already been given a makeover.

Craft workshops and business offices have been built, along with a new resource centre, improved toilets, a permanent home for bike hire and showers.

Changes have also been made to the forest drive and the main car park has been extended.

The second phase of the project saw 62km of new cycle trails created through the forest.

Project delivery manager Howard Wallis told a meeting of the district council's policy and resources committee that the trails attract cyclists from all over the country.

He added: "The project will help the forest to become a regional centre of excellence for mountain biking."

He said the new centre would help to bring in more visitors.

"It will stimulate economic activity within the forest," he said, adding that it would also create new business, and develop and improve land.

It would also provide a large area of business space and create three jobs, he said.

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward is putting £1m into the venture.

The whole project will see a total of more than £4m of investment, including funding from the European Union.

Mr Wallis added: "The Forestry Commission has confirmed that the project is ready to start as soon as funding confirmation is received."